Former favourite Nel stars as Spalding Town beaten

Spalding Town 1st made a losing start to the new South Lincs and Border League Premier Division season as hosts Skegness 1st handed them an eight-wicket reverse on Saturday.

In the only fixture of the day, new Town skipper Chris Dring lost the toss and Spalding were bowled out for 148 in 43.1 overs after being put into bat.

A half century from former Spalding favourite Warren Nel then steered Skegness to 150-2 in 33.4 overs in reply to take maximum points, while all Spalding took home was three bonus points.

Spalding made a steady start by the seaside and progressed to 31-0 before opener Ollie Dring was dismissed by Jack Harrison for 14.

Skipper Chris Dring (4) soon followed after being trapped LBW by Andrew Sylvester (2-28), before a mini-collapse saw them reduced to 42-4 as Harrison (2-44) got rid of Jon Manton (23) and Ethan Lawrence became Sylvester’s second victim without troubling the scorers.

However, Nilantha Atapattu (42) and Ben Smith (37) put on 74 for the fifth wicket to begin the rebuild.

Smith smacked four fours and a six in his exciting knock, while partner Atapattu found the ropes four times too.

A solid score was beginning to look likely, but both were out in quick succession to Norman Brackley (4-33) to leave Town on 125-6.

Unfortunately for the visitors, they lost their last four wickets for just 23 runs as Matt Gill (8), Brandon Andrews (0), Harry Decamps (1) and Will Naylor (1) all fell cheaply to leave Josh Lawrence stranded on 15 not out.

Nel, who claimed two of those four wickets for Skegness, was typically impressive with the bat in reply as he reached 54 not out before retiring.

Indeed, Town’s two wickets both came with the score on 112 as Andrews (2-22) got rid of Reece Brant (43) and Carl Abbiss (3).

But Jamie Epton (13 not out) and Brackley (15 not out) saw the hosts home with plenty of time to spare.

Town will be hoping for better when they visit Gorse Lane to meet Grantham 2nd on Saturday (1pm).