Spalding Town’s title dreams remain intact in the South Lincs and Border League Premier Division after the narrowest of victories at the weekend.
Having been set 155 to win by visitors Market Deeping 2nd at Seas End Hall on Saturday, they reached 155-9 to secure a nervy one-wicket success.
Simon Caplick’s 65 was the highlight of Deeping’s 43-over innings, with Michael Morris (4-40), Nilantha Atapattu (3-26) and Shamal Fernando (2-20) all amongst the wickets for Spalding.
In reply, Town lost Jon Manton (2), Ollie Dring (9) and Jay White (0) early on, but skipper Chris Dring (52) and Atapattu (26) steadied the ship with important knocks. Smaller scores for Ethan Lawrence (12) and Ben Smith (13) edged Spalding closer to their target, but wickets continued to tumble.
In the end, it was Brandon Andrews (12 not out) and Michael Morris (8 not out) who got them over the line with five overs and just the one wicket to spare.
They remain 18 points shy of leaders Skegness with a game in hand and just three more matches to play.
Elsewhere in the top tier, Moulton Harrox enjoyed a fine 85-run win over hosts Bourne 2nd at the Abbey Lawn.
Batting first, Jack Barnett’s 80 inspired Moulton’s strong total of 207-9 in 45 overs.
Lee Eyett (18), Chris Beale (17) and Henry Lavery (13) were the others to contribute on a Bourne wicket that is often conducive for run-making.
Kurt Storey made 54 in the home side’s reply, but they fell well short of their target with a meagre tally of 122 in 34.2 overs.
That was down to some fine Harrow bowling, as Eyett (4-42), Lavery (2-15), Matt Rose (2-17), Stephen Coles (1-21) and Barnett (1-19) all shone.
Long Sutton, meanwhile, suffered a 62-run defeat at Boston 2nd. Damian Lawson (40) and Tim Norris (39) scored well in Boston’s 155, with Jake Burton (5-21) spinning his way to excellent figures for Sutton.
Dan Oldfield made 37 in their reply, but he had no real support and Sutton slumped to 93 all out in 27.5 overs.
In Division One, Moulton Harrox 2nd suffered a 60-run loss at Baston.
Ben Hudson’s 50 helped the hosts to 182 despite 4-36 from Danny Jackson, before Harrox made 122-9 in reply.
Mike Kearns Snr made 57 not out in Moulton’s innings.
Also beaten were Spalding Town 2nd, who went down by five wickets at Grantham 3rd.
George Morris (54), Mohammad Alam (43) and Neo Timothy (37) scored nicely in Town’s 183 in 44 overs. But Grantham made 184-5 in reply, despite figures of 2-23 from Morris.
Down in Division Two, Spalding 3rd suffered a humbling 292-run loss at Newborough 2nd.
Three players made half-centuries as the home side cracked 347-4, before bowling Town out for 55.
Also soundly beaten were Long Sutton 2nd, who were handed a nine-wicket home reverse by Sleaford 3rd.
Andrew Wright (34), Jack Baker (18) and Steven Milnes (17) scored well but the hosts were all out for 119 in 26.2 overs at Paradise Field.
Sleaford waltzed to their target with Gavin Hutson retiring on 52 not out in their 123-1.
Saturday fixtures: SLBL (12.30pm): Premier – Freiston v Moulton; Long Sutton v Bourne 2nd. D1 – Heckington v Spalding 2nd; Newborough v Moulton 2nd. D2 – Castor 2nd v Long Sutton 2nd; Skegness 2nd v Spalding 3rd.
