Luckless Pinchbeck Cricket Club fall just shy of their target again

For the second-successive week, Pinchbeck were left to rue their luck in South Lincs and Border League Division Two as Boston 3rd took the spoils in a well-contested match at Spalding Grammar School.

Chasing 185 for victory, early wickets cost Pinchbeck dearly and, despite the best efforts of the middle order, they fell short by just nine runs.

After inserting their opponents, Pinchbeck made a bright start with Andrew Beeston and James Langford bowling tidy lines up front.

Beeston claimed the early wicket of Tether and Langford took a sharp caught and bowled to remove Gilding – but Boston responded well and skipper Sean Barnett (40) refused to let the bowlers dictate with a positive knock before falling to a well judged catch by Haydn Roberts.

The visitors continued to push on and, led by youngster Sam Holland (56), they moved the score over nicely in the middle overs. Pinchbeck did manage to get wickets to limit Boston’s progress with Roberts overcoming a shaky start to claim 3-41 and Langford (2-36) returning to get the big scalp of Holland.

However, Boston’s lower order wagged sufficiently to move the score to 184-9 after their 45 overs.

Pinchbeck’s reply hit the worst possible start with Nick Crook (1) given LBW and Danny Jackson (7) then run out inside the first three overs.

Richard Riley (33) and Roberts (16) set about repairing the innings with a careful stand of 49, but both fell to the bowling of Moore to leave the score at 75-4.

Glen Hammond (26) and Beeston (31) sensibly ticked the board over to keep the home side in the hunt, but with the rate creeping up Pinchbeck had to push hard and the visitors were able to peg them back with wickets at key stages.

Langford led the charge late on with a busy 34 not out, but he ran out of partners as the returning Moore took late wickets to finish with 4-38.

Pinchbeck closed on an agonising 175-9.

They visit Belton Park 2nd on Saturday (1.30pm).

• Spalding 3rd suffered a seven-wicket defeat against Burgh and District in Division Two despite a fine 49 from Josh Lawrence at the Memorial Field.

Lawrence’s effort was the highlight of Spalding’s 116 all out, with Harry De Camos (17) the next highest scorer.

Anthony Beardsley (5-50) was the chief destroyer for the visitors.

In reply, Burgh reached 119-3 in just 23.3 overs, despite Stef Gostic (1-16), Lawrence (1-11) and Richard Gilbert (1-25) all picking up wickets.