Red-hot Spalding Town picked up an impressive win at South Lincs and Border League leaders Sleaford 2nd on Saturday to keep their hopes of a title charge very much alive.
After a fine bowling display limited the home side to just 148-9 from their 45 overs, Spalding confidently raced to 150-5 in their reply to wrap up a five-wicket success and 19 match points.
The odds of Town making it eight wins on the spin looked good from the off, with skipper Chris Dring winning the toss, opting to bowl and reducing Sleaford to 65-7 as Will Naylor (3-30) ripped through the top order.
Key knocks down the order from Ben Lambert (44 not out) and James Bowlby (33) at least pushed the hosts near to 150, but bowlers Brandon Andrews (2-17) and Nilantha Atapattu (2-33) backed up Naylor well as Town shone.
Spalding needed just 30 overs to reach their target, with skipper Chris Dring (44) setting the tone at the top of the innings.
A few wickets fell cheaply including Jon Manton for a duck, but Ben Smith (48 not out) cracked three sixes and five fours to see his side home.
With eight wins on the spin under their belt, Spalding are now just 21 points behind leaders Sleaford in second.
Staying in the top flight, Long Sutton are fourth after a three-wicket success over Grantham 2nd at Paradise Field.
Josh Baker (4-15), Dan Oldfield (3-30), Rob Simpson (2-40) and Barry Stanway (1-46) impressed with the ball as Sutton, who lost the toss, knocked over their visitors for 142 in 41.2 overs.
Opener Adam Wright (50) gave Sutton impetus at the start of their reply, while handy scores from Ed Barnes (15) and Raj Sangha (13) helped set the stage for Baker (34 not out) to round off the run chase. Sutton’s 145-7 was enough to clinch maximum points, too.
This Saturday sees a big derby between Spalding and Sutton at Seas End Hall (1pm).
Moulton Harrox made it a full house of South Holland successes in the Premier Division as they beat Boston 2nd by eight wickets on the Duckworth Lewis method.
Wickets from Stephen Coles (3-36), Lee Eyett (2-38), Alex Baker (1-19), Matt Rose (1-10) and Chris Beale (1-14) limited the hosts to 150-8 from their 45 overs.
Rain ensured that Moulton had a different target to chase in fewer overs, but they raced to 89-2 in 25.2 overs with Josh Newton (26 not out) and Mike Kearns Snr (22 not out) steering them to just a second victory of the season.
It was a different story in Division One, as Moulton Harrox 2nd and Spalding Town 2nd both suffered heavy defeats.
A super 119 from Will Charlesworth and 66 from Priesh Patel helped Heckington (249-7) beat Harrox’s second string by 191 runs at Broad Lane.
Harry Lovell 3-65 and Jamie Juckes 3-60 starred for Moulton despite the defeat, with Lovell’s 14 not out in a total of 58 the best anybody could muster.
Spalding 2nd, meanwhile, were beaten by eight wickets as Newborough eased to glory.
Town won the toss and opted to bat first, but were all out for 65 as the away side made 66-2 in reply.
p Long Sutton are up to second in Rutland League Division Three after an eight-wicket win at Castor on Sunday.
Sutton bowled their hosts out for 128 first up, despite a fine 55 from Connor Parnell.
Charlie Crisp (3-30) was the pick of their bowlers, while Paul Deans also took great figures of (2-8).
Sutton breezed to 131-2 in reply as Dan Oldfield (71) impressed before Jake Burton (23 not out) and Adam Whitaker (25 not out) saw them home.
In the same division, a sensational 101 from Brandon Andrews helped Spalding beat Oakham 2nd by 55 runs at Seas End Hall.
Town racked up 189 but were bowled out, before Carl Andrews claimed 5-23 to help skittle Oakham for 134.
In Division Four East, Long Sutton (174-5) lost by 59 runs against Peterborough Town 2nd (233-8). Ellie Stanley’s super 82 not out was their highlight.
Likewise, Moulton Harrox (137) were handed a seven-wicket reverse by Ufford Park 2nd (138-3).
Fixtures
South Lincs and Border League (Saturday, 1pm): Prem – Belton Park v Moulton Hx; Spalding v Long Sutton. D1 – Baston v Spalding Town 2nd; Moulton Hx 2nd v Grantham 3rd. D2 – Newborough 2nd v Long Sutton 2nd; Spalding Town 3rd v Castor 2nd.
Rutland League (Sunday, 12.30pm): D3 – Long Sutton v Oakham 2nd. D4E – Market Deeping 2nd v Long Sutton 2nd; Moulton Harrox v Peterborough Town 2nd.
