Just before 9pm on Saturday night Long Sutton pulled off a superb win over Grantham 2nd.
With Grantham unable to start any earlier than the scheduled 1pm it led to a long day for Phil Barnes’s side interrupted by a football inspired lunch break.
It was Sutton who brought the result home in the twilight thanks to an excellent knock of 62 not out. by Barry Stanway.
Previous to that, their bowlers had restricted the home side when it looked as if they would post a sizeable total.
The Grantham top order quickly settled into the game led by opener Martin Parmley (35) and captain Steart Mudie (19).
Their opening partnership was built on by Rory Johnson (10) and Gareth Bennett and at the 30 over stage were 114-3.
Dan Oldfield (2-19) had Parmley trapped lbw and bowled Johnson after Adam Wright had bowled the Boston captain Bennett.
William Naylor led the Spalding fight back with a superb spell of bowling.
He took 4-37, three of the wickets bowled and one caught as Spalding turned the screw and restricted the home side to 176-9 from their 45 overs.
Aaron John (2-39) rounded things off with two late wickets.
Grantham’s Gareth Bennett batted superbly for his side with a patient 48 of which just 12 runs came from boundaries.
The Long Sutton reply began at around 6.30pm
Openers Rajan Sangha (14) and Jamie Taylor (10) provided a steady start but when they and Chris Booth (6) fell the game was in the balance.
A knock of 33 from Dan Oldfield helped the recovery as did Aaron John (15).
Stanway was very much the star of the show though and he batted superbly to see his side to victory.
His 62 not out included 10 fours and ensured Sutton won with five overs left to spare.
Barnes (4 not out) was also in at the close as Sutton celebrated an impressive win.
A second consecutive victory for Long Sutton, plus points demotions for the sides that had previously been below them mean Sutton are now a huge 74 points above the bottom two.
- Saturday’s scheduled South Lincs and Border Division Two match between Pinchbeck and Long Sutton 2nd was postponed to allow the players to watch the football. The game will now be played on Saturday, September 22.
