A gutsy knock from skipper Danny Jackson and six wickets for Lee Eyett steered Pinchbeck to a notable victory over second placed Claypole in South Lincs and Border League Division Two.
After bowling their hosts out for 183, Jackson survived a blow to the face to make 79 and guide his team to a six-wicket win.
Having chosen to bat on Saturday, Claypole made a positive start and, despite an early strike from James Langford (1-37), they moved the score along at a swift rate in the first half of their innings with Matt Ragless and Scott Barnsdale (23) adding 98 for the second wicket.
Ragless was the aggressor with 12 fours and two sixes in a faultless 76 before he fell to Eyett –who then had Ben Wadd caught behind first ball.
This gave Pinchbeck the lift they needed and, with some excellent application in the field, they pegged back the run rate and continued to pick up wickets.
With eight catches held and Eyett finishing with 6-59, the home side were all out for 183 with six overs still to bowl.
Jackson and Nick Crook made a steady start in Pinchbeck’s reply with a half century opening stand, but this was disrupted when a short ball climbed on the Pinchbeck skipper causing a nasty blow to the cheek which forced him to leave the field.
Claypole pounced with the cheap dismissals of Karl Hibbert (0) and Eyett (7) to get back in the game.
However, the Pinchbeck captain then returned to the crease and, with the solid Crook, they resumed their earlier partnership to once again thwart the hosts and carry the side towards the winning line.
Jackson brought up a deserved 50 and, having made a patient 49, Crook was caught one short of his half century.
However, with just 17 runs needed the damage was done. Despite the late wicket of Jackson for a brilliant 79 – including 13 fours and a six – the visitors wrapped up a good day’s work with a six-wicket victory as they reached 184-4 in the 47th over.
The 20-point haul keeps Pinchbeck fourth in the table, some 38 points behind leaders Baston.
- Spalding 3rd were soundly beaten by the above-mentioned table-toppers from Baston in SLBL Division Two on Saturday.
Mark Richardson’s 118 fired the leaders to 230-6 at the Memorial Field, with Town only able to muster 83 from 14.3 overs in their innings.
Carl Andrews (27) and Matt Gill (13) were the only players to make double figures for a youthful Spalding line-up, who stay in the bottom four.
