Skipper Josh Newton scored a stellar century as Spalding Town kicked off their South Lincs and Border League Premier Division season with a dominant 160-run over Boston 2nd on Saturday.
Number four Newton made 103 not out at the Mayflower as he shared a stand of 123 with debutant Joe Broomfield (70) in Town’s total of 278-4 from 45 overs.
Warren Nel (3-26) and Brandon Andrews (3-27) then starred with the ball to limit the hosts to 118-8 in reply.
Batting first, Spalding openers Jon Manton (9) and Bromfield put on 31 before the former was caught off the bowling of Dan Fox (2-41).
The ever-reliable Warren Nel was next to the crease and looked likely to bat long when he hit two fours on his way to 22. However, he became Fox’s next victim, also caught.
That brought Newton and Broomfield together at the crease – and Town really put their foot on the gas.
Ex-Moulton Harrox and Long Sutton ace Broomfield cracked six fours as he passed his half-century, but he was eventually dismissed by Wills Barker (2-53).
That failed to slow Spalding’s progress, though, with Newton and Jon Miles then putting on 84 together.
The captain crashed nine fours and a maximum as he reached his century, with Miles dispatching a big six and one four before being stumped off Barker’s bowling with the score on 274.
In reply, Town made the perfect start with a wicket from Lawrence (bowled) before Boston had registered a run.
The hosts did rebuild, with Will Tetther (37) and Sam Holland (43) putting on 72 before Miles bowled the latter.
Nel then took down Paul Tetther’s (7) stumps with the score on 89 to trigger something of a collapse.
Rizwan Qudir (1) was also snared by Nel, while Will Tetther was finally bowled by Andrews, who followed that up by having Liam Bent (0) caught and bowled.
Cameron McCullum (1) was soon bowled by Nel and Jack Tetther (6) was trapped LBW by Andrews to ensure the hosts had lost six wickets for 28 runs.
Town couldn’t get two more wickets to wrap up the innings, but still collected 20 points for their efforts.
They host Bourne 2nd at Spalding Grammar School this Saturday (1pm).
- Moulton Harrox suffered a four-wicket defeat at Baston in their first Division One game of the campaign on Saturday.
Batting first, a 48 not out from John Barnett steered Moulton to 130-7 batting first at The Shrine.
Louis Greetham (29), Jake Morton (11) and Nohman Jarral (10 not out) were the only other Harrox batsmen to make double figures.
Baston reached 131-6 in reply with John Lamin (32) top scoring.
Alex Baker (2-22), Alin Carter (2-38), Jarral (1-15) and Oliver Saville (1-32) were the Moulton wicket-takers.
Both Long Sutton and Pinchbeck saw their Saturday fixtures postponed.
- Saturday’s fixtures (all 1pm): Prem – Freiston v Long Sutton; Spalding v Bourne 2nd. D2 – Long Sutton 2nd v Boston 3rd; Pinchbeck v Billingborough 2nd. Sunday fixture (1pm): D2 – Freiston 2nd v Spalding 3rd.
