Spalding Town missed the chance to clinch the South Lincs and Border League Premier Division title on Saturday as Skegness rained on their parade.
Table-topping Town were bowled out for 145 at Spalding Grammar School, before seeing Skegness reach 149-7 in reply to seal the three-wicket win.
With title rivals Bourne 2nd taking maximum points, they are now just nine points behind with one game remaining – and that’s a winner-takes-all clash between the two at the Abbey Lawn on Saturday (12.30pm).
Josh Newton was the star with the bat for Town, making a super 66 before being bowled by the impressive Bradley McGilloway (4-33).
Matt Gill, Ethan Lawrence and Brandon Andrews were the only other players to reach double figures as they each made ten, but Town would have fancied their chances of defending 145.
Will Naylor (2-42), Jon Miles (2-31), Andrews (1-29) and Roy Tilley (1-46) all took wickets, but Skegness’ reply was anchored by Norman Brackley (46 not out) and he saw them home in the 44th over.
- Also in the SLBL Premier Division, Adam Wright’s maiden century in the league steered Long Sutton to a huge 156-run success over Graves Park.
Wright cracked 101 as Sutton scored an imperious 241 in 44.2 overs batting first.
They then knocked over Graves Park for just 85 in 22 overs to clinch a massive victory.
Sutton are back at home on Saturday when they welcome Freiston to Paradise Field for their penultimate game of the season on Saturday (12.30pm).
- Moulton Harrox picked up maximum points against Boston 3rd in SLBL Division One to secure promotion to the top flight with two games to spare.
They cracked 211-6 batting first from their 45 overs, with Jack Barnett top scoring on 45.
Matt Barnett (33), Mike Kearns Snr (29) and Lewis Martin (20) were also on-song in Harrox’s strong total at Broad Lane.
Boston’s reply lasted only 18 overs as devastating bowling from Nohman Jarral (5-28) and Simon Juckes (4-22) decimated their line-up and left them all out for 51.
Moulton can still win the title and visit Claypole this Saturday (12.30pm).
- Staying in SLBL Division One, Baston (181-6) beat Pinchbeck (116) by 65 runs.
Andrew Beeston (3-40) was handy with the ball but solid knocks from Andy Keen (45) and Liam Davies (43) left Pinchbeck up against it.
Mike Knight (34) top scored with 34 in Pinchbeck’s reply, but they couldn’t keep up with the run rate.
Fellow Division Two side Spalding Town 2nd (133) suffered a six-wicket defeat against Stamford (134-4) despite a 59 from Chris Dring.
Ben Dole starred with 8-31 for Stamford.
- The SLBL Division Two derby was won by Spalding 3rd (170-6) as they beat Long Sutton 2nd (83) by 87 runs.
