A dazzling derby display from young talent Josh Baker helped Long Sutton 1st to a thrilling derby win over Moulton Harrox 1st in the South Lincs and Border Premier Division on Saturday.
Baker blasted 110 runs from just 69 deliveries as Sutton overcame a sluggish start to rack up a huge total of 295-9 from their 45 overs.
Hosts Harrox gave it their all in a bid to chase down the daunting target before finishing their alloted overs on 275-6.
That made it 570 runs scored on what proved a batsman’s paradise at Broad Lane as Sutton claimed a 20-run success and 18 points in their season opener, while Harrox had to settle for just nine points.
Bowling first, Harrox did well to slow Sutton’s batting prowess as Lawrence Rayner got among the wickets early on. He claimed three scalps in his opening spell to leave the visitors wobbling on 51-3 with a third of their innings gone.
Veteran Harrox bowler Simon Juckes then got rid of away skipper Dan Oldfield LBW for 29 and also claimed another wicket to leave Sutton reeling on 85-5.
This brought Baker and all-rounder Barry Stanway together at the crease – and they built a partnership which proved pivotal in the outcome of the contest.
Crucially, Harrox missed a run out chance with the score at 100, which allowed the batsmen to make the most of the opportunity.
Stanway reached his half-century in just 30 balls as Sutton motored to 169-5 before Baker passed 50 in style with a huge maximum.
With the pair putting on 106 runs in ten overs, teenage talent Baker soon helped himself to another boundary to bring up their 200 in emphatic fashion.
Soon after another smash from Baker look destined for six – only to get stuck in a tree, meaning they had to settle for a scampered three.
Undeterred, Stanway monstered a maximum over the clubhouse before Matt Rose finally had him caught on the boundary for 59.
Despite the end of the 129-run partnership, Baker battled on and soon reached his century to take the team total past 250.
Stephen Coles finally ended his innings on 110, before the visitors closed five runs shy of 300.
In reply, Harrox made their way to 96-1 after 18 overs before Matthew Barnett (39) was stumped.
However, Moulton were scoring quickly with Rose and star man Josh Newton in fine form until the latter was out for 37 with the score on 153-3.
The impressive Rose continued to play positive cricket as he passed his half-century with a flurry of boundaries – making an unlikely run chase seem a little more probable.
The luck wasn’t with him, though, as he clattered an inside edge onto his stumps to leave Moulton on 255-5 and needing 41 runs to win with less than six overs remaining.
Fittingly, it was that man Baker who sealed his man-of-the-match showing with a crucial spell of bowling at the death as Harrox finished just shy on 275-6.
Sutton host Market Deeping 2nd on Saturday (1pm), while Harrox welcome Boston 2nd.
