The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Jon Manton’s unbeaten 89 steered Spalding Town 1st to their maiden win of the new South Lincs and Border League Premier Division season on Saturday.
Opener Manton anchored Town’s innings as they successfully chased down Grantham’s 184-8 with seven wickets to spare at Gorse Lane.
Having lost their first game of the season, Harry DeCamps (3-46), Nilantha Atapattu (2-45) and Brandon Andrews (2-54) all impressed with the ball before a score of 188-3 was enough to secure 19 match points.
Hosts Grantham won the toss and opted to bat first – a choice they must have been delighted with when openers Stewart Mudie (41) and Taylor Fell (49) put on 102 for the first wicket.
However, Town eventually hit their stride and claimed three quick wickets to reduce the home side to 111-3.
Mudie was dismissed by DeCamps, while Atapattu trapped Fell LBW and got rid of number three Martin Parmley for a duck.
Grantham attempted to rebuild and moved the score on to 143 before another burst of Town wickets saw four more batsmen fall for just 17 runs.
Oliver Barry (17) was the first man out as Andrews claimed his first scalp, before Matthew Barry (3) saw his stumps cleaned up by DeCamps.
Samuel Durham (0) was also castled by DeCamps, while Max Everett’s battling 22 was ended by Andrews.
The tail did wag a little despite Will Naylor bowling Neil Stevenson (10), with Jared Hackney (7 not out) and Isuru Vidanagamage (7 not out) adding valuable runs at the end of the 45 overs.
In reply, Spalding also got off to a solid start thanks to Ollie Dring (30) and Manton’s 67 partnership. The former chipped in with three fours in his 51-ball knock before falling to Vidanagamage.
Next man in was skipper Chris Dring (10), but he was Vidanagamage’s next victim after being bowled following hitting a pair of boundaries.
The impressive Vidanagamage struck again soon after to claim the scalp of Ethan Lawrence (7), but that was as good as it got for the hosts.
Manton was in very good knock at the top of the order and his 131-ball innings, which included seven fours, was the catalyst for victory.
He was ably assisted by Atapattu (26 not out) as Spalding passed their target in the 43rd over.
This Saturday sees Town back on ‘home’ soil as they welcome Sleaford 2nd to Seas End Hall (1pm).
- Spalding Town 2nd suffered a 138-run defeat at Billingborough 1st in their SLBL Division One opener on Saturday.
Despite James Laud’s 3-26, hosts Boro posted 241-7 from their 45 overs after winning the toss, with Richard Wells (49) and Robert Arnold (41no) top scoring.
Town’s reply collapsed to 103 all out in just 29.4 overs, however, with Stuart Gollop (6-24) ripping through the batting order.
Jay White was Spalding’s top scorer with 39, but only three other players made double figures.
Spalding’s second string are back in action at Newborough on Saturday (1pm).
