The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Long Sutton’s top side finally got back to winning ways with an eventually comfortable victory against fellow strugglers Stamford at Paradise Field on Saturday.
Paul Edgeller (2-39), Jimmy Wright (2-33), Jake Burton (2-46) and Dan Oldfield (2-11) shared the wickets as Sutton limited their visitors to 162-8 batting first in the South Lincs and Border League Premier Division clash.
All-rounder Edgeller then scored a stunning 92 not out to help the hosts get over the line in the 24th over.
Electing to bowl first, Sutton started promisingly as Wright and Edgeller both made early breakthroughs to dismiss Stamford’s opening pair relatively cheaply.
Both bowled well upfront, but only picked up a wicket a piece in their opening spells.
Burton was then introduced and made an immediate impact, picking up a wicket with his second ball before he took a second wicket, aided by a smart catch from part-time wicketkeeper and skipper Matt Bull.
Dan Oldfield then took two further quick wickets as the home side looked to polish off the Stamford innings.
However, they took their foot off the proverbial gas and some sloppy fielding allowed Stamford to move towards a competitive total.
Some powerful hitting from Richard Hulme (74) went a long way to ensuring this before he was dismissed by the returning Wright, before a second wicket for Edgeller restricted Stamford to 162-8 from their allocation.
In reply, Sutton started rapidly, reaching 28-0 from their first two overs.
Father and son duo, Chris and Ed Booth, plundered the bowling in the early stages before Chris (23 from 15 balls) fell.
Phil Barnes (0) soon followed after getting a ball that misbehaved slightly, but Sutton never really looked in trouble.
Edgeller joined Ed Booth at the wicket and they raced to a swift 50 partnership before Booth (33 from 30 balls) fell to an excellent catch.
Sutton did threaten a trademark collapse with Steve Skoulding (1) and Jamie Taylor (0) falling in quick succession, but with Edgeller still at the crease – joined by Bull – a victory was always on the cards.
Edgeller looked in sublime touch as he accelerated past 50 towards a match winning knock.
Sutton reached their target of 163 from only 23.2 overs with Edgeller falling just eight runs shy of a century from only 58 balls as the home side turned what could have been a tricky chase into a stroll.
* Rob Simpson took a stunning return of 6-7 to steer Long Sutton 2nd to a routine success against Boston 2nd in Division One on Saturday.
His brilliant bowling helped dismiss the hosts for a puny 74 batting first, with Danny Sisson (3-34) and Jordan Keeble (1-17) also among the wickets.
Sutton did lose four wickets in their reply, but solid knocks from Sisson (24) and Andrew Wright (22) eased the away side to a winning tally of 76-4.
Perhaps fittingly, Simpson (4no) was at the crease at the close.
