Derby despair for Spalding Town as Market Deeping cruise to victory

Spalding Town’s miserable form in the Lincs ECB Premier League continued on Saturday as neighbours Market Deeping handed them a six-wicket defeat.

Hosts Town were put into bat first at Seas End Hall after losing the toss – and they collapsed to 84 all out in 30.4 overs as Ashar Hafeez took fine figures of 4-12.

Mitch Freeman took 2-26 as Spalding tried to defend their low tally, but Hayatullah Niazi’s 59 steered Deeping to a winning score of 85-4 inside 15 overs.

It’s now eight games without a win for Town, who are back into the bottom two but still have a healthy 50 point gap between themselves and rock-bottom Skegness.

Town’s innings got off to a bad start as the in-form Jon Manton (1) was bowled by Niazi (1-17).

Ollie Dring (20) and Aussie all-rounder Freeman (16) did put on 40 for the second wicket, but both fell in quick succession to leave Spalding wobbling on 44-3.

Worse was to follow as Josh Lawrence (2) and the dangerous Nilantha Atapattu (2) both went cheaply, before skipper Chris Dring (5) and Raj Sangha (9) stuck together to take the score on to 73.

Both were soon gone, though, exposing the tail and giving Deeping a whiff of a big derby victory.

Joseph Broomfield (9) offered some resistance down the order, but Ethan Lawrence and Barnaby Dring were both out for ducks to leave Town 84 all out in 30.4 overs.

In their reply, Deeping found themselves 1-1 as Atapattu (1-27) trapped Connor Gillett LBW for a duck.

But Josh Smith (10) and Niazi took the sting out of the run chase, putting on 56 for the second wicket.

Spalding refused to go quietly, though, with Freeman chipping away before taking the scalp of Smith (10) to end his watchful knock.

Broomfield (1-18) then bowled Niazi nine runs after he reached his 50 to implant an element of doubt into the minds of the visiting players.

Indeed, Freeman followed suit as he shattered the stumps of Zeeshan Manzoor (8) to leave Deeping on 77-4.

But Hafeez (5 not out) and ex-Town man Jimmy Hook (3 not out) stayed calm and got the away side over the line with plenty of time to spare.

That left Town with only one bonus point to show for their efforts.

Next up for them is a another home game as they welcome mid-table outfit Woodhall Spa on Saturday (11.30am).