Spalding Town’s losing streak drags on at Nettleham as they’re bowled out for 82

It’s now ten Lincs ECB Premier League defeats on the spin for Spalding Town after a heavy away beating at Nettleham on Saturday.

Visitors Town were put into bat by their hosts at Mulsanne Park after losing the toss –and were skittled out for a meagre 82 in 36 overs, with Haydn Bromfield taking 5-15.

Nettleham then eased to 83-2 in 19.5 overs in reply, meaning Spalding took zero points from the clash and stay second-from-bottom.

With just two games left to play, Chris Dring’s side are 31 points clear of basement side Skegness.

With regular Jon Manton missing, skipper Dring stepped up to open with Mitch Freeman.

But Dring was out caught and bowled by Rhett Bridgens (2-18) for just six, with Aussie all-rounder Freeman (22) hanging around a little longer before becoming Bromfield’s first victim.

His score of 22, which came from 53 balls and included three fours, was to be Town’s best individual score of the day.

Rajan Sangha, batting at three, also managed double figures but was the next man out for 14 as Oliver Ward (1-20) struck.

His dismissal triggered something of a collapse for Spalding, as they fell from 46-2 to 48-5 in no time at all.

Bromfield was the man to do the damage, having Joseph Broomfield (4) stumped and trapping Divyeash Vaseeharan (1) LBW.

Josh Lawrence (2) also went cheaply to Bromfield, while Nilantha Atapatti (14) offered some resistance for the visitors before being the last man to be bamboozled by a bouyant Bromfield.

Ethan Lawrence (9) attempted to push his side towards three figures but soon became Martin Strawson’s (2-11) first victim.

With the tail exposed, James Blake (1) and Barnaby Dring (0) came and went to leave Spalding with 82 to defend.

To have any chance of pulling off a victory, Spalding needed early wickets.

The hosts reached 26 before Deklan Binnington (13) was the first man out, with Andrews (1-17) having him caught by Blake.

Mitchell Slattery (10) followed soon after as Freeman (1-12) had him stumped by Ethan Lawrence.

But Nettleham held firm after that, with Ward (24 not out) and Bridgens (22 not out) steering them to the finish line inside 20 overs.

Town now visit fourth-placed Grantham on Saturday (11.30am), before finishing at home against Scunthorpe Town the following week.