Chuffed skipper Rob Ambrose paid tribute to Hafiz Majeed after his record-breaking display with the bat helped Spalding Town dispatch rivals Long Sutton on Saturday.
Pakistan all-rounder Majeed made a 125-ball score of 158 to fire Town to a season-high 267-5 at Spalding Grammar School, with more than 100 of his runs coming from boundaries.
No Spalding player has ever scored more in an innings, with the previous best being Peter Clarke’s tally of 151 set in 1989.
Dan Milgate’s 5-35 then helped dismiss Sutton for 139 in reply, giving Town a 128-run win and a 21-point lead at the top of the South Lincs and Border League Premier Division.
Ambrose said: “What an innings that was. Obviously Hafiz has played to a high standard, but it was a delight to watch.
“Josh Newton said to me that he can’t remember seeing a better knock and I’d have to agree. What’s great about Hafiz is that he’s really giving back to the club.
“He’s the first overseas player we’ve had to really coach the younger players – we’re lucky to have him here.
“We’d heard that Sutton were a little under-strength so we wanted to score heavily and take maximum points, which is what we did.
“It was great to see a few of the younger players having a bowl too. Overall it was a great day for us.”
Having won the toss, Spalding elected to bat with maximum points on their mind – and they delivered.
With Warren Nel missing, the explosive Majeed stepped up to open the batting to devastating effect.
He and Josh Newton (42) set about laying the platform for a big score with a 151-run partnership, before the dangerous Rob Simpson (2-54) had Newton caught by Raj Sangha eight shy of what would have been his sixth half-century of the season.
In truth, it was all about Majeed from then on, as he motored to his first ton for Town, despite seing wickets tumble around him, before Raj Sangha (1-54) eventually had him caught.
Young gun Jimmy Hook (3) was Simpson’s second victim, while Rav Sangha (2-69) got rid of Tim Norris (3).
Aussie ace Milgate added 20 down the order before being bowled by Rav Sangha, leaving Cameron Roy (8 not out) and Ambrose (9 not out) to push Town to a monstrous 267-5 at the end of their 45 overs.
With chasing down their target always looking unlikely, not getting bowled out was Sutton’s chief aim in reply.
They lost Jamie Taylor (8) LBW to Josh Lawrence (1-23) early on, with Roy (1-16) then snaring Ed Booth for a duck soon after. Chris Booth (30) and Rav Sangha (16) steadied the ship a little before both fell to an inspired Milgate (5-35).
Aaron John (0) was the Australian’s third victim, before Raj Sangha (46) and Simpson (17) enjoyed a solid partnership to take Sutton past 100.
Milgate eventually trapped Simpson LBW and then got Jake Burton for just 1, with Majeed bowling Raj Sangha to end his resistance.
The final two wickets involved Roy Tilley (1-6), who ran out Ellie Burton for a duck and got Jeremy Smith LBW to leave the visitors all out for 139 in 40 overs.
This Saturday sees Spalding visit basement boys Belton Park, with Sutton welcoming Billingborough to Paradise Field (both 1.30pm).
