Cricket round-up: Town still top after tie, Sutton fall just shy in run chase and Harrox make hay

Spalding Town remain ten points clear at the top of the South Lincs and Border League Premier Division table after a dramatic tie with nearest rivals Woodhall Spa 2nd on Saturday.

Batting first at the Memorial Field, table-topping Town were bowled out for 176 as Matt Haslam took impressive figures of 5-31.

Amazingly, the visitors were bowled out for the exact same score in reply with Sam Cherry top scoring on 55.

Both sides collected 14 points from the clash, with Spalding perhaps the happier of the two – given that they have a game in hand.

This Saturday sees Josh Newton’s side make the trip to fifth-placed Freiston (1pm).

• Long Sutton fell agonisingly short of victory against Billingborough on Saturday as their run chase came up eight runs short.

After opting to field first in the SLBL Premier Division clash, Sutton bowled out their visitors for 178 in 34.3 overs.

Richard Wells (42), Paul Goodwin (32) and Euan Boswell (23) all scored well for Boro, while Adam Wright (3-26) was the pick of the home bowlers.

Also taking wickets were Will Naylor (2-44), Dan Oldfield (2-21) and Barry Stanway (1-26), while Sutton managed two run outs.

In reply, the hosts lost wickets at regular intervals as they struggled towards their tricky target.

Chris Booth (33) was the only one of the top four to make double figures as he cracked six fours, but it was Wright who impressed.

He helped himself to 12 fours en-route to 65, but he struggled for partners. Adam Whittaker (18) did hang around with him for a while and Angus Bell (9 not out), held firm at the death but they were all out off the final ball of the game.

Aaron Pullum (5-30) was the pick of the Boro bowlers.

This Saturday sees Sutton make the trip to Bourne 2nd (1pm).

• A superb batting display steered Moulton Harrox to a 94-run victory over hosts Claypole in SLBL Division One on Saturday.

Openers Steven Rushowrth (41) and Louis Greetham (76) put on 103 for the first wicket as Harrox made hay after winning the toss.

Some 36 of Rushworth’s runs came from boundary fours before he was bowled by Alex Ireland (1-59), while Greetham clubbed 12 fours and a six before Graham Revill (1-55) shattered his stumps with the score on 133.

Lance Bettinson (76 not out) and Simon Juckes (41 not out) then enjoyed an unbeaten stand of 127 to take Harrox to 260-2 in their 45 overs.

Claypole, who only had ten men, saw their reply stutter to 166 all out in 40 overs. Alex Baker (3-47) and Nohman Jarral (3-31) both took three wickets apiece, while Juckes (2-24) and Jake Morton (1-35) also chipped in.

Revill (54) made a half-century for the hosts, but it was ultimately in vain.

• Spalding Town 2nd (151-8) defeated Timberlands (131) by 20 runs in SLBL Division One.

A 59 from Alam was the highlight of their innings, while Amelia Gardner (3-7), Sinot Thomas (2-23), Jamie Juckes (2-7) and Matt Sharpe (2-19) starred with the ball.

• Leaders Pinchbeck suffered a shock loss in SLBL Division Two as basement side Uffington turned the table upside down.

The strugglers were put into bat first, but stunned Pinchbeck by racking up 200-4 with Neil Jones (64 not out) starring.

Danny Jackson (2-32) was the top performing Pinchbeck bowler.

In reply, only Mark Ramsden (35 not out) impressed as the hosts were bowled out for 115 to suffer their first loss of the season.

• Figures of 5-43 from Ian Morris couldn’t stop Long Sutton 2nd (98) losing by 41 runs at Grantham 3rd (139) in SLBL Division Two.