Spalding Grammar School’s under-13 cricket side have completed a fantastic season by winning two major trophies within the space of a week.
The talented team have wrapped up both the David Cross Shield and the Lincolnshire County Cup prize, reaffirming their status as one of the Grammar’s most promising groups.
First, they retained the under-13 version of the David Cross Shield with a thrilling display of cricket during finals day at Burghley Park in Stamford.
In the semi-final against Longsands School, Spalding posted a competitive total of 132. The innings was built around an unbeaten 52 from Paddy Harrington, while useful contributions from Tom Wide and McGowan proved vital at the tail.
Longsands started their reply with their opening pair reaching 40 until two excellent catches from Raj Sangha and Rabicano proved decisive.
From then on, wickets were lost with regularity and Spalding finally dismissed them for 75. Captain Jon Manton and Cunnington took three wickets apiece.
The opponents in the final were Thomas Deacon Academy, Peterborough.
Spalding batted first and once again, with Harrington dominating the bowling once more. His intelligent batting and aggressive hitting saw him reach another unbeaten 50 – and he was well supported by Manton, Cunnington and Billimore.
That enabled Grammar to reach 123 from their 20 overs.
Accurate bowling from Sangha, Rabicano and Manton ensured that Thomas Deacon Academy fell behind the required run rate throughout their innings, before finally finishing on 95 from their 20 overs.
Manton was the pick of the bowlers, taking four wickets and completing an excellent run out.
The side followed that success by securing the County Cup title at home against a strong William Farr School side from Lincoln.
Batting first, the opening pair of Manton and Harrington played watchfully to see off the opening bowlers, before punishing the remaining bowling to complete a partnership of 107. Harrington eventually fell for 56, but Manton went on to score 51. Some good hitting from Sangha then enabled Spalding to set a target of 140 to win.
William Farr batted well but were never in front of the required rate, with Cunnington, Rabicano and Manton being particularly economic.
Sangha then wrapped up the innings with two wickets in successive balls as Farr finished some 26 runs short.
