The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A captain’s knock from Nigel Gardner helped Spalding Town 3rd pick up an impressive 40-run victory over Uffington in South Lincs and Border League Division Two on Saturday.
Opener Gardner made a calming 44 as wickets tumbled around him as Spalding posted 199-6 batting first at the Memorial Field after winning the toss.
A half-century from Kobe Wiles ensured that Uffington had a good crack at chasing down their target, but two wickets each from Harry Birch (2-14), Billy Gallagher (2-25) and Ollie Wright (2-32) saw Spalding bowl them out for 159 in 42.3 overs.
Town’s total owed largely to Gardner’s effort – which included five fours – and three other solid contributions down the order.
Harry Birch (25 not out), Jack Bowser (21) and Matt Gill (16 not out) were the key contributors, while Felix Cunningham (3-40) was the pick of the Uffington bowlers.
Opener Wiles top scored with 51 in the away reply, while James Saralis (26) and John Wiles (19) also chipped in nicely.
But they came up shy of their target as Michael Morris (1-22), Will Gardner (1-27), Joseph Watson (1-8) and Bowser (1-0) also took wickets to add to the trio with two apiece.
The win moves Spalding’s third side up to seventh in the standings, with their next game being at Belton Park on July 30.
In the same division, Long Sutton 2nd have slipped to third after suffering a 30-run defeat against now second Castor and Ailsworth 2nd at Paradise Field.
The away side batted first after winning the toss and racked up 222-7, with captain Kev Johnson top scoring with 72 and C John taking 4-47.
Sutton made a good fist of their reply and Dinesh Elangovan made a fine 86 that included five sixes and ten fours, but they were all out for 192 in the 40th over.
Up in the Premier Division, Long Sutton won their South Holland derby at Moulton Harrox by six wickets.
Hosts Harrox were all out for 131 in 29.2 overs after being put into bat, before Sutton made a calm 132-4 in reply to take all 20 points.
The win sees Sutton close that gap on third-placed Newborough to 15 points, while Harrox stay eighth.
In Division One, Moulton Harrox 2nd are just five points off the top after a three-wicket win at Ancaster.
After winning the toss and inserting their hosts into bat, Harrox bowled Ancaster out for 154 before making 158-7 in reply.
At the other end of the table, Spalding Town 2nd finally recorded their first win of the season – at the 12th time of asking.
In a Sunday battle between the league’s bottom two sides at Seas End Hall, Spalding won the toss and put opponents Billingborough 2nd into bat.
They dismissed their relegation rivals for 175 in 45 overs, before chasing down that target by the barest of margins.
Indeed, their 177-9 was enough for a one-wicket triumph that yielded 20 big points.
Spalding will look to keep their new-found momentum going when they visit Ancaster this Saturday.
