Spalding Town hold their nerve to seal Nettleham success as they defend 127

Spalding Town picked up their third win of the Lincolnshire ECB Premier League season with a nervy 14-run victory over Nettleham in a low-scoring affair at Seas End Hall on Saturday.

In-form Australian opener Mitch Freeman top scored with 44 as Town were bowled out for what looked like a modest 127 in just 35.3 overs after being put into bat.

However, a top showing in the field saw the away side blown away for 113 in reply, with Brandon Andrews (3-19) impressing with the ball.

That secured maximum points for Spalding, who are sitting eighth in the table after eight matches.

After skipper Chris Dring lost the toss, there was little sign early on that Spalding were disappointed to have been put into bat first.

Indeed, openers Jon Manton (22) and Freeman put on an encouraging 65 for the first wicket, with the former making four boundaries before becoming the first of Harry Thornton’s (3-32) three wickets.

Josh Lawrence (11) joined Freeman and the duo added 21 more before the departure of the Aussie triggered something of a collapse.

His 65-ball knock, which included six fours, was ended by Haydn Bromfield (1-23) and left Town on 86-2.

That was soon 97-5, with Lawrence run out by Rhett Bridgens and Thornton getting both Dring (2) and Matt Gill (0) cheaply.

Nilantha Atapattu (13) and Ethan Lawrence (13) attempted to steady the ship, but Bridgens (3-21) bowled the former to trigger another wicket rush.

Thomas Rollinson (0) was LBW next ball to Bridgens, Rounak Sen (2-14) got Andrews (1) and Bridgens returned to snare Harry Birch (0) quickly to reduce the hosts to 120-9.

Lawrence was the last man out in the 36th over, with Sen having him stumped.

In reply, Nettleham made a nightmare start and found themselves toiling at 29-5.

Andrews struck early to have Ben Pearce (3) caught behind, then bowled number three Archie Rossington (4).

Atapattu (2-34) repeated the trick as he took down Mitchell Slattery’s (16) stumps, before swiftly getting rid of Jake Pollard (2) LBW.

Andrews then returned to have Bridgens caught for a duck, as it looked like Nettleham were going to fold for a tiny total.

Harry Pickett (33) and Thomas Lea (18) had other ideas and a 49-run partnership for the sixth wicket took them to 78-6, before Freeman (2-27) had Pickett caught by his opening partner Manton.

That man Freeman then bowled Lea to leave Nettleham teetering on the verge of defeat, but they had one last push.

Daniel McCardell (18) and Bromfield (9) pushed the away side on to 111-8 and within a few boundaries of victory, but the game swung again when Harry DeCamps (2-25) got rid of Bromfield.

McCardell went to Lawrence soon after and DeCamps bowled Sen (1) to tie up a big win for Spalding.

Next up for Dring’s side is the always tough trip to Woodhall Spa on Saturday (11.30am).

Their opponents are sixth in the standings, some 22 points better off.