The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Out-of-sorts Long Sutton 1st slipped to their third successive South Lincs and Border League Premier Division defeat on Saturday.
It was basement boys Belton Park who did the damage this week, sentencing Sutton to a 70-run beating.
Sutton skipper Phil Barnes won the toss and his decision to bowl first was quickly rewarded with Dan Oldfield striking twice in just the second over.
Barry Stanway at the other end however, had no luck, passing the edge on numerous occasions.
With the two pace bowlers tiring in the heat, Barnes turned to his trio of slow bowlers, including the return to first team action of club legend James Baker.
Rob Simpson bowled with great control and soon struck, but it was Baker who produced the ball of the day to trap Dan Reynolds LBW for 46 and deny him a deserved half century. With Reynolds gone, Sutton were on top, but a counter attacking 42 from Alan Ward got Belton back in the game.
With Simpson bowled out, Oldfield returned to the attack and started where he left off, wrapping up the innings and finishing with figures of 5-38 to bowl Belton out for 185.
Sutton’s reply got off to the worst possible start, losing Barnes in the first over. The experienced Chris Booth soon settled in to the crease and showed some impressive stroke play, until he was bowled for a well-made 26.
And, while the runs continued to come, so did the wickets. Adam Wright (15) and Oldfield (26) looked to rebuild but when Wright was adjudged to be out LBW, the Sutton slump kicked in and Belton turned the screw.
Sutton never looked like getting the required runs and were skittled for 115, falling 70 runs short.
