On-song Spalding Town produced the perfect performance on Saturday as they cruised to a huge 186-run win at Billingborough.
The win was fuelled by a sublime batting performance, with Hafiz Majeed (107) scoring another stellar century and Josh Newton (65), Warren Nel (54 not out) and Ben Smith (53 not out) all passing 50 in Town’s monstrous 310-3.
In reply, Dan Milgate (4-24), Majeed (3-39) and Jimmy Hook (3-15) starred with the ball to dismiss hosts Boro’ for 124 in 32.5 overs and keep Town top of the South Lincs and Border League Premier Division table ahead of Saturday’s crunch clash with second-placed Sleaford 2nd.
Skipper Rob Ambrose was impressed with how ruthless his side were with the bat and feels his side are at top form ahead of their last two games.
He said: “We played very well. They put us into bat on what looked a tricky pitch at first, but the lads made it look like a great pitch.
“It felt like whoever went out to bat played very well. Jimmy Hook and Josh Newton gave us a good start, but we batted confidently throughout and took the game well away from them.
“To be honest we considered declaring with the threat of rain, but it never materialised. We bowled OK but did give them quite a lot of runs, mostly due to us going on the attack.
“To be honest, it was the perfect way to prepare for two games that will decide our season.”
Having been put into bat by their hosts, Spalding set about passing 300 in the league for the first time this season.
Boro’ may have thought that they made the right call when Harry Lamb removed talented teenager Hook for 22 early on.
But the formidable duo of Newton and Majeed built a fine partnership, with Newton hitting 12 fours before being trapped LBW by Paul Goodwin for 65.
Majeed, who made 19 fours and a six himself, was then joined by Nel in what was a very deep batting line-up. The Pakistani ace eventually went for 107, but has now scored 650 runs in 11 innings for Town this season at an average of 108.33.
Nel (two fours and three sixes) and Smith (five fours and four sixes) had some fun in the final overs as they took the score past 300 at the close of their 45 over effort.
In reply, Spalding did a very good job of bowling their hosts out in just 32.5 overs.
Majeed bowled opener Mitch Griffiths for 23, while Milgate had James Rollinson caught by Ambrose for 24.
That man Majeed also castled Shaun Brown (10) and had Aaron Pullum (10) pouched by Ambrose to expose the middle order.
And, when skipper Goodwin was bowled by Milgate for 16, Spalding did a fine job of cleaning up the tail.
Hook got rid of Tom Harrison (4), bowled Mark Simpson (5) and trapped Lamb LBW for 2, while Milgate had Chris King stumped by Ambrose for a duck and cleaned up Bill Sadler (5) to ensure maximum points.
The win leaves Ambrose’s side 28 points clear of Sleaford ahead of Saturday’s clash with their only title rivals.
