Market Deeping 2nd (219-5) beat Spalding 2nd (128) by 91 runs
Town’s second string made a losing start to their South Lincs and Border League Division One campaign on Saturday as hosts Deeping clinched a 91-run triumph at Outgang Road.
On a green wicket, Spalding skipper Steve Norris won the toss and had no hesitation in inserting the hosts into bat amid conditions which helped the bowlers.
Opening duo Tom Dale (3-60) and Sanj Tott (0-53) bowled well, with both creating chances from dangerous Deeping batsman John McDougall (76) that fell tantalizingly close to Jamie Juckes at mid-off.
The introduction of Ansar Hussain brought success straight away, with Nick Green (11) falling to a smart catch from Mike Kearns behind the stumps to leave Deeping 23-1.
That saw Sam Malton join the experienced McDougall in the middle – and runs continued to be scored at a gentle rate, with both batsman playing carefully to ensure that a solid base was laid and at 30 overs Deeping had reached 88-1 .
At this point the runs started coming at a good rate, with McDougall accelerating at a quick rate and the 15-year-old Malton belying his age and playing a mature innings.
McDougall finally fell with the score on 123, with Hussain finally breaching his defence. However, a fine captain’s cameo from Richard Witt (38) saw runs scored at 20/20 rate and Malton reached a well deserved 76 before a fine last over of the innings by Dale saw Town take three wickets with just one run conceded to leave town chasing 220 for victory.
In reply, Town lost Mick East (4) and Mike Kearns (1) to leave them in trouble at 6-2 before Simon Juckes (24) and Hussain (17) took the score to 50.
Juckes was the first of the pair to fall, pouched at slip by a smart catch from Witt before Hussain was caught trying to increase the run rate.
Jamie Juckes (10) then played on to leave Spalding struggling on 65-5. Will Holmes (3) then fell to the ball of the day from Ross Lowndes (3-25), before Dale (0) and Jimmy Clarke (9) went.
That left Skipper Norris (14 not out) and Tott (17) to take the score past the 100 mark, before Matt Sharpe (4) was the last man to fall on 128.
