Long Sutton bounced back to winning ways in the South Lincs and Border League Premier Division on Saturday with a convincing 42-run victory at Grantham 2nd.
Losing the toss, Sutton were asked to bat first on a damp green track that offered the bowlers plenty of help. Hosts Grantham struck early removing Luke Lovegrove without troubling the scores and Dan Oldfield for six.
Skipper Phil Barnes (42) was his usual resilient self and Adam Wright (14) struck a few quick boundaries to get the innings back on track.
Grantham continued to take wickets at regular intervals and looked well on top until Jordan Keeble (16) and Rob Simpson (29) piled on late runs to propel Sutton to a respectable 181, which included 53 extras.
With the ball, Sutton started well with Barry Stanway (3-33) taking three wickets in his opening spell.
Stuart Mudie (50) was the only batsman to offer any real resistance as Sutton continued to look dangerous with the ball.
With the seamers finished, it was the turn of spin duo Jake Burton and Rob Simpson.
Both settled into a rhythm and, backed up by some tight fielding, they quickly put a stranglehold on the Grantham innings.
With Mudie still at the crease, Grantham still had a chance, but when he holed out on the boundary, Sutton were gunning for victory.
Jake Burton (2-28) piled the pressure on and Simpson (5-29) completed the rout taking the final wicket and his fifth to wrap up a 46 run win.
That gave Sutton 19 match points and sees them leap above Grantham into the top six.
- Long Sutton 2nd suffered a 44-run defeat against South Lincs and Border League Division Two table-toppers Claypole on Saturday.
A 70 from James King steered the away side to 209 from their 40 overs at Paradise Field, with Andy Shaw (4-47) the pick of the Sutton bowlers.
Sutton could only manage 165 in reply, as Kristian Lennon (7-37) was on inspired form. Ed Booth (43), Raj Sangha (33) and Andrew Wright (24) all enjoyed good knocks for Sutton as they fell short.
