Heavy defeat for Spalding Town in season opener as they’re shown size of their task in Lincs ECB Premier League

Spalding Town endured a baptism of fire on their return to the Lincs ECB Premier League as Sleaford handed them a ten-wicket defeat on Saturday.

Promoted Town, who were playing at their revamped Seas End Hall home, were put into bat by the visitors on the opening day of the season.

Town were bowled out 144 in 43 overs, with Ethan Lawrence (30), Brandon Andrews (25 not out), Matt Gill (18) and skipper Chris Dring (17) the top scorers.

Scott Tite (4-33) and Joe Peck (3-32) were Sleaford’s star turns with the ball and helped put their side in a commanding position ahead of their reply.

The visitors knocked off their target with apparent ease as openers Shaan Patel (83 not out) and Ayush Patel (59 not out) needed just 27 overs to see their side home.

Town handed a debut to new left-handed opener Mitch Freeman, who has come in as an overseas player from Australia. But fellow new faces Waqas Malik (all-rounder), Will Andrews and Ethan Tilley (wicketkeeper) weren’t involved.

Sadly for Freeman, he was the first man out for a nine-ball duck as he became Drew Harbon’s only victim with the score on 15.

Number three Joe Broomfield (1) followed soon after, before opener Jon Manton (11) was also out to leave Town on 21-3.

Dring and Nilantha Atapattu did their best to rebuild, but when the latter fell for eight, Town lost three wickets for ten runs.

That’s after Peck tapped Jay White LBW for a golden duck and then bowled Dring for a gritty 17.

Lawrence and Gill then put on 45 for the seventh wicket to take Spalding towards three figures, but Tite castled Lawrence when the score was on 97 to break their resistance.

James Rollinson joined him in the pavillion after a two-ball duck, before a late cameo from Andrews moved Town onto a respectable target.

He cracked two sixes in his 38-ball 25, with Gill and Harry DeCamps (8) both being dismissed by Tom Shorthouse (2-24) to end the innings six runs shy of 150.

In reply, Shaan Patel was the most destructive of the two Sleaford openers.

He hammered a pair of sixes and ten fours in his unbeaten 83, while Aayush Patel cracked eight boundaries in his half-century as Sleaford eased to 20 points.

Town, who collected one point for their troubles, are back in action on Saturday when they make the short trip to Bourne (11.30am).

Results (Sat): Bracebridge Heath 156, Grantham 157-8; Lindum 109-1, Scunthorpe Town 107; Louth 195, Bourne 199-5; Market Deeping 198, Nettleham 201-9; Spalding 144, Sleaford 145-0; Woodhall Spa 185, Skegness 143.