New look Lincolnshire League launches for brand new season

The new look Lincolnshire Premier Cricket League launched last weekend.

All of the leagues have merged into the one pyramid with the top flight reduced to 10 teams.

The reorganisation meant that the South Lincs and Border League champions Moulton Harrox were denied promotion.

Instead, they are in Championship South, one of two leagues in the second tier.

On Saturday they came up against one of the teams they would have replaced, Market Deeping who finished second bottom in the Prem last time.

Moulton suffered a nightmare start after being put in, losing both openers for just three runs.
Josh Newton (35) and Matthew Rose (36) rebuilt things with a partnership of 66, but after both fell in quick succession wickets tumbled with Ruari Drumm (16) the only other player to reach double figures.

The last six wickets fell for 24 runs with Moulton 116 all out in the 32nd over.

For Deeping, Aaron Keverne-Onyon took 3-10, Lyndon James 2-35 and Daniel George (2-36) including both openers.

In the reply Rose (1-19)trapped Deeping captain Connor Gillett for 16 but by the time Drumm (1-11) bowled his fellow opener Danyaal Malik for 43, the home side had already reached three figures.

Muhammed Tayyib (25 not out) and James (17 not out) guided Deeping to an eight wicket win in the 22nd over.

After relegation last season, Long Sutton are in the new third tier Division One South and they began the season on Saturday with a 103 run loss at Castor and Ailsworth.

The defeat was largely down to Blake Blumeris who came in with his side 47-4 and who hit a brilliant 140 in Caistor’s 254-7 from their 45 overs.

He hit 25 fours and one six in his knock enjoying a partnership of 75 with the joint second highest scorer Josh Fox (22).

For Sutton Daniel Plant (2-30) and Ajith Mandala (2-45) did the early work but the pick of the bowlers was Tim Norris who took 3-35.

Also in that division are Moulton Harrox 2nd XI and they began with a four wicket win at Woodhall Spa 2nd XI.

Moulton won the toss and put Woodhall in restricting them to 181 all out.

Ernada Munasinghege (3-34), Jay Hemmant (3-51), Thilina Dilshan (2-37), Zam Maddison (1-20) and Sanaka Sumanpala (1-31) were all among the wickets while opener Simon Behan top scored for Woodhall with 65.

Jamie Jukes hit eight fours as the Moulton opener gave his side a strong start with a knock of 42.

Charlie Poulter (21), Munasinghege (36) and Ben Harris (37 not out) kept them on their way and despite a slight wobble, Harrox saw it home with eight overs in hand.

There was a local derby to mark the start of Division Two South and it was Spalding 2nd XI beat Long Sutton 2nd XI.

Spalding were put in and posted 184 all out with a 26 from opener Andrew Sorrell, Dan Mulley’s 55 and what proved to be vital 22 from Thomas Decamps the highlights.

For Sutton, Noah Warnes took 3 for 39, Albi Drohan 2-19, Alastair Drohan 2-31 and Charith Harshana 2-41.

The visitors to Sea End Hall looked well on their way to the win after a strong start by openers Alistar Drohan (29) and Harshana (32) while Calvin Bird’s excellent 69 had them well ahead of the required rate.

Tight bowling by Max Cooper (3-19) and Dan Mulley (1-23) brought back Spalding back into it and Sutton fell to 166 all out in the 37th over.

Decamps (2-28), David Luff (2-30), Macey Andrews (1-24) and Josh White (1-34) all struck for Town.

Moulton Harrox are also playing in Division Four of this year’s Rutland League which plays on a Sunday.

They came up against Oundle Town in their first game on Saturday losing by 23 runs despite a century from Drumm.

Oundle elected to bat and posted 221-7 from their 40 overs with R Kadcha’s 3-20 the best of the bowling.

Drumm came in with his side 10-2 and hit nine fours and two sixes in his 100 ball 103. He was the eighth wicket to fall with Moulton on 179 and they didn’t add to that score before being all out.