The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Spalding Town first and third teams were without matches at the weekend but the Seconds enjoyed an eight-wicket victory over visitors Boston Seconds in Division One of the South Lincs and Border Premier League.
Opener Mitch Freeman led the way with an unbeaten 85-ball 122, including a pair of 6s and 19 4s.
Andrew Hewitt (35no) and Jack Tetther (33) top-scored for the visitors, who reached 169/7 in their 45 overs.
Six of Spalding’s eight bowlers took wickets, with Tom Decamps (2-12) impressing most.
Freeman scored the vast bulk of Spalding’s winning 173/2 from 24 overs.
Spalding first team return to Lincolnshire Cricket Board Premier League action on Saturday with the short trip to Abbey Lawn to take on neighbours Bourne.
Championship leaders Long Sutton suffered their first defeat of the season, going down by one wicket at home to second-placed Sleaford Seconds.
Sutton lost their first two wickets with only 34 on the board but were back in contention at 156/2 thanks to a solid third-wicket stand between opener Nathan Oliver (72) and Tim Norris (68).
However, that was as good as it got with only Charlie Crisp (19) of the last seven batsmen reaching double figures as his team succumbed for 211 in the 33rd over.
Max Lorimer (6-44) was their chief tormentor.
Hopes were high of defending their below-par total when Sleaford lost their first six batsmen, having mustered only 68 runs between them. However, Thomas Stephan (69) and Sumit Puri (30no) combined to claw things back in the visitors’ favour. Josh Baker
(3-40), Paul Edgeller (2-17) and Dan Oldfield (2-32) kept home hopes alive with seven bowlers used in an attempt to finish things off but Sleaford dug in and passed their total with one wicket in hand after 47 overs.
Long Sutton Seconds are also in pole position, leading the way in Division Two by 11 points after a
260-run demolition of bottom-placed Freiston Leake & Leverton Seconds.
The hosts were dismissed for 91 after Sutton had posted a formidable 351/5. They lost their first two wickets for just 44 but a third-wicket stand of 101 between Adam Wright (78) and Edward Barnes (34) steadied things.
Daniel Plant (101no) and Jack Baker (76no) then came together to add an unbeaten 179 for the sixth wicket. Plant was particularly impressive, notching six 6s and 12 4s.
Steve Milnes took 4-7 from three overs to rattle the hosts, with Rob Simpson
(2-12) and Steve Norris (2-24) taking two each as they were sent back to the pavilion for just 91, with John Horton (40) the only batsman to put up major resistance.
Long Sutton’s Sunday first XI made it a treble of table-toppers for the club with a five-wicket home win over Ufford Park in Division Two of the Rutland League.
Josh Baker (3-26) and Jake Burton (3-28) took three wickets each with a brace apiece for Crisp
(2-26) and Jacob Gray (2-45) seeing the away side all out inside 41 overs for 191.
The first three Sutton wickets fell cheaply in reply before Gray (66no) and Dan Oldfield (46) combined to forge a 67-run fourth-wicket partnership.
It was left to Gray and Baker (13no) to see them over the line in the 40th over.
Long Sutton Seconds were well beaten at Ufford Park Seconds in Division Four, falling to a 90-run defeat.
Paul Rushen (3-19) and Vanraj Odedra (3-41) were the pick of the visitors’ bowlers in Ufford’s all-out total of 152.
However, their reply was always in trouble against Ryan Linney (5-38) and Jan Neville (4-15), with only Ajay Jina (22) and Rushen (10no) reaching double figures in their 25-over response of 62 all out.
Spalding Town women played two matches on Sunday in Division One South of the East Midlands Softball League.
Rachel Houlden (14) and Hannah Layram (12) both hit double figures in a 24-run defeat against Loddington & Mawsley, while three players reached double figures in a 59-run defeat against Market Deeping.
