Moulton Harrox get off to a flier as Karl and Rob both crack half-centuries

Moulton Harrox made a winning start to their South Lincs and Border League Division One season by beating Welby Cavaliers by five wickets on Saturday.

Hosts Welby won the toss and elected to bat, racking up 179-9 from their 45 overs.

Fardin Satari (57), Tom Wilkin (30) and Vidit Matta (29) all scored well for the hosts – but a fine bowling display from Jack Barnett (5-27) ensured they didn’t pass 200.

Darren Hibbert (2-28), Jack Cusack (2-1) and Karl Hibbert (1-7) also got amongst the wickets as Harrox performed well as unit.

Athambawa Aazeer (4-36) made life difficult for Harrox in reply, removing top four Cusack (7), Barnett (39), Clive Bayston (3) and Darren Hibbert (5).

However, Karl Hibbert (57no) and Rob Sexton (50) eased the pressure for Moulton as they reached a winning score of 178-5 in the 44th over.

That was enough for 19 match points for skipper Martin Chapman and his Harrox side.

• Spalding 3rd suffered an agonising seven-run defeat in a low-scoring classic against Boston 3rd in SLBL Division Two.

Eddie Seymour (4-16), Chris Green (2-16), Brandon Andrews (2-9), Alex Want (1-8) and Amelia Gardner (1-10) all picked up wickets as Town knocked Boston over for 69 in 31.5 overs at the Memorial Field.

Unfortunately for the hosts, that target proved to be too steep with only Seymour (15) making double figures in a team tally of 62 (38.1 overs).

Dan Fox (4-19) was the pick of the Boston bowlers.

• Dan Oldfield scored a fine half century as Long Sutton 2nd made a winning start to their SLBL Cup (Division C) campaign against Grantham 4th.

Hosts Sutton posted 170-9 from their 40 overs at Paradise Field, with Oldfield (50), Jamie Taylor (31) and Andrew Taylor (28) all scoring well.

Grantham lost wickets at regular intervals in reply, as they stumbled to 91 all out in the 31st over.

Craig Milnes (3-20), Oldfield (2-8) and Ellie Burton (2-12) all did well with the ball as Sutton sealed a 79-run success.

SOUTH LINCS & BORDER CRICKET LEAGUE

Results

Premier Division: Stamford Town 234-8 (Holland 56no), Belton Park 104; Sleaford 2nd 241-7 (Bean 76), Grantham 2nd 135-9; Billingborough 257-6 (Brown 66, Garfoot 82no), Woodhall Spa 2nd 229 (Wilson 66); Boston 2nd 224-5, Bourne 2nd 172; Market Deeping 2nd 150, Spalding 147.

Division One: Freiston 163 (Tunnicliffe 5-37), Heckington 51 (Moeed 6-27); Baston 169, Skegness 2nd 142; Welby Cavaliers 176-9 (Satari 57, J Barnett 5-27), Moulton Harrox 178-5 (Hibbert 57no, Sexton 50); Grantham 3rd 161-4 (Robinson 75no), Spalding 2nd 164-5 (S Juckes 52no); Timberland 34-1 v Billingborough 2nd – game abandoned after 15 overs.

Division Two: Boston 3rd 69, Spalding 3rd 62; Belton Park conceded to Graves Park.

Saturday’s fixtures (all 1pm)

Premier Division: Belton Park v Woodhall Spa 2nd; Boston 2nd v Sleaford 2nd; Grantham 2nd v Bourne 2nd; Long Sutton v Spalding; Deeping 2nd v Stamford.

Division One: Billingborough 2nd v Skegness 2nd; Cavaliers v Baston; Grantham 3rd v Timberland; Spalding 2nd v Moulton Harrox.

Division Two: Graves Park v Claypole; Pinchbeck v Grantham 4th.