Spalding Town remain in command at the top of the South Lincs and Border League’s Premier Division after a four-wicket win at Bourne 2nd on Saturday.
Town limited their hosts to 183-7 on the notoriously excellent Abbey Lawn track, before reaching 185-6 in the 35th over to tie up an 18-point haul.
Joe Broomfield (3-23), Jon Miles (2-36) and Roy Tilley (2-37) took the wickets for Spalding, while half-centuries from Miles (67) and skipper Josh Newton (53) helped knock off the runs.
Batting first, dangerous Bourne opener Jon Howard (24) and South African ace Xanti Xipu (22) both made solid starts before falling to veteran Town ace Tilley.
Courtney Kruger (16) also got a start before having his stumps cleaned up by Miles, before Bourne built a solid partnership.
Club legend David Christmas (43) and Guy Cunningham (42) threatened to push them past 200 as both closed on half-centuries.
However, Miles took the prized scalp of Christmas (caught and bowled) and Broomfield struck to dismiss Cunningham, which halted Bourne’s progress.
Broomfield also got rid of Sam Harby (6) and David Greenfield (11) as Bourne finished 17 shy of 200.
Having endured the fierce heat in the field, Town lost early wickets in their reply.
Jon Manton (5) was trapped LBW by Xipu (3-55), while Warren Nel (19) was snared by Kruger (1-58).
That only served in bringing Newton and Miles together, however, as the pair set about building what proved to be a match-winning partnership.
Newton was eventually dismissed by Christmas after edging behind shortly after reaching his 50, while Miles was caught and bowled by Xipu for a super 67.
Jon Garner (11) was also bowled by Xipu and Broomfield (9) saw his stumps smashed by young gun Rowan Good (1-6), but Jordan Butcher (8 not out) and Brandon Andrews (1 not out) were there at the end to see Town home.
This Saturday sees table-topping Spalding, now 29 points clear, play host to mid-table Billingborough. That clash is at the Memorial Field and gets under way at 1pm.
