The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Long Sutton 1st are sitting pretty in third place in the South Lincs and Border League Premier Division table after an 80-run victory over Woodhall Spa 2nd on Saturday.
Opener Adam Wright top scored with 37 as Sutton posted a healthy 204-8 from their 45 overs after being put into bat at Paradise Field.
Visitors Spa 2nd were dismissed for 124 in reply, with Adam Whitaker’s 4-25 helping the hosts to a maximum haul of 20 points.
It’s now three wins on the spin for Jake Burton’s side, who are just 13 points behind early pace-setters Newborough.
Having been put into bat, Sutton’s opening duo Wright and Phil Barnes were in no mood to give away their wicket and started well.
Wright helped himself to six fours as he made a innings-best 37, while ex-skipper Barnes found the ropes twice in his 61-ball 27.
Wicket-keeper Wright eventually fell to Kieran Richardson (3-44), while Barnes was out to Rowan Hackett (2-29).
After the openers departed, it was a case of almost every other player making small contributions to the team total.
Although Tim Norris was run out for a ten-ball duck, Dan Oldfield (10), Ed Barnes (11) and Josh Baker (14) all managed double figures.
That theme followed with Calvin Bird and captain Burton (21), before both were snared by Sam Cherry (1-49) and Richardson respectively.
Acceleration did come at the end of the innings, though, as Whitaker scored 31 from 22 balls – albeit with only two fours.
Woodhall Spa’s reply started disastrously, with none of their top five managing double figures.
Baker (1-22) had Cherry caught behind for a nine-ball duck, before Whitaker rode roughshod through the other four.
He got opener Miles Galbraith (4) caught and bowled, then had Matthew Ashford caught by Burton for just one.
Not done there, Whitaker bowled James White (8) and then trapped Simon Behan LBW the very next ball for a golden duck.
However, Spa refused to roll over and began a fightback of sorts with a partnership between Danny Wells and Richardson.
Wells played a beautiful knock, cracking 63 at better than a run-a-ball to give the away side a whiff of victory.
He hit nine fours and scored at 103.28, while Richardson attempted to drop anchor at the other end as he scored 17 off 52 balls.
Both eventually fell to the spin of Burton (3-17), who bowled Richardson clean and had Wells caught by the safe hands of Phil Barnes.
Burton also bagged Matt Haslam LBW for just one, while Charlie Crisp (2-28) picked up Peter Jackson for an eight-ball duck.
Woodhall’s final two put up stubborn resistance for the tenth wicket, but Crisp eventually had Oliver Carr (7) out LBW to seal the success in the 38th over.
Next up for in-form Sutton is a trip to fourth-placed Heckington on Saturday (1pm).
North Kesteven side Heckington are just a point behind them, but have played a game more so far this season.
