The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Pinchbeck (164-7) beat Timberlands (153) by 11 runs
For a second successive week Pinchbeck were caught up in a tense finish – but on this occasion they took home the points as they edged out hosts Timberlands by 11 runs in a well contested match that ebbed and flowed.
Put into bat in decent bowling conditions on Saturday, Pinchbeck made good progress in the first half of their innings in the South Lincs and Border League Division Two clash.
Despite the early loss of Danny Jackson (16), Sam Smith (25) and Lee Eyett (21) guided them to 79-2 off the first 20 overs.
But that progress was stifled somewhat as Timberlands – led by skipper Eric Askin (2-19) – tightened their lines well in the middle overs.
And the pressure told, as Pinchbeck slumped to 93-5. Richard Riley and James Cole prevented a collapse though – and with some mostly assured running between the wickets, they recovered the situation with a sensible stand of 65 in 13 overs.
A magnificent catch on the boundary dismissed Riley for 38 in the penultimate over, while Cole batted through for an unbeaten 27 as the innings closed on 164-7.
Timberlands’ reply started badly as the reliable combination of Andrew Beeston and Nick Crook quickly reduced them to 12-3. But Freeman (35) led an excellent counter attack – including two big sixes.
Beeston (3-30) caught and bowled the left hander to provide a welcome breakthrough, which skipper James Langford quickly added to when he bowled Durward to leave the score at 61-5.
Brumpton (28) and Harry Wright (17) looked to have regained some momentum, but Eyett got the latter with a sharp return catch before Carl Lamming snapped up two wickets the hosts to 109-8.
A stand of 42 between Ian Mickelburgh and Andrew Chadwick frustrated Pinchbeck, but Crook eventually got reward when he bowled the latter with 14 still required.
With the game in the balance, it was Langford (2-22) who delivered the telling blow for Pinchbeck in the next over when he bowled Mickelburgh for 39 to leave the home side all out for 153.
