Town skipper: Deeping are the team to beat

HOLDING UP AN END: Rob Ambrose helped Spalding Town grab a draw.

Market Deeping (271-7) drew with Spalding Town (199-9)

Skipper Rob Ambrose hailed Market Deeping as the team to beat in the Lincs ECB Premier League after hanging on for a draw on Saturday.

A stunning century from Chris Jones (117) fired Deeping to a mammoth 271-7 at Outgang Road, before Town laboured to 199-9 in reply.

Spalding had been on course for a much better showing with the bat, as Sri Lanka ace Thivanka Rajaratne clubbed 85 to guide them to 150-1.

Fellow opener Warren Nel (38) and number three Josh Newton (29) also battled smartly, but Lee Peacock (5-54) led a Deeping recovery and ripped through the away middle order.

Wamanga Perera (0), Ben Smith (0), Tim Norris (2), Charlie Kearns (2), Nuwan Jayasena (0) and Jack Barratt (7) were all knocked over in quick succession, but defiant knocks from Luke Whitworth (14no) and Ambrose (2no) steered Spalding to a share of the spoils.

Earlier, Rajarante (2-25), Jayasena (2-74) and Barratt (2-60) all took two wickets apiece. Although impressed with South Lincolnshire rivals Deeping, rueful Town skipper Ambrose felt his side bowled poorly.

He said: “Considering we probably let them score 40 or 50 more than they should have got, I thought we were in the game at one stage.

“Wamanga Perera pulled up very early, which left us a bowler down. But I felt we weren’t good enough with the ball and it cost us.

“Of course, the collapse didn’t help either. I was happy to hang around at the end and help us get something after giving my wicket away in a similar situation against Bracebridge.

“But you don’t half get some stick when the opposition know you are playing for a draw. It was pretty hostile out there, but we got something at least.

“Deeping were very good. They’ve got a talented side and are a good bunch of lads.

“Whether they will win the league, I’m not sure. But what I will say is if any team finishes above them, they’ll probably be the winners.”

The losing draw, which netted Town seven points, leaves them eighth in the 12-team division. They are 19 points off fourth-placed Louth and a healthy 56 clear of the bottom two.