Spalding romped to a five-wicket win over bottom club Nettleham to pull well away from the foot of the Lincolnshire Board Premier League.
Ollie Dring was the home hero with 106 runs to move his team from 13/1 to 200/4 on their way to a winning 210/5 in 43 overs. A partnership of 105 with Mitch Freeman (36) provided the backbone to their total after they had restricted the visitors to 209/9 from their 50 overs.
All six of Spalding’s bowlers took a wicket each, with Brandon Andrews proving the tightest with two maidens in his eight-over haul of 1-19.
Apart from a 71-run seventh-wicket stand between AJ Cook (46no) and Ben Plant (28), Nettleham failed to establish themselves after Hayden Bromfield (31) and Darius Govender (30) had shown early promise.
l Long Sutton took a big step towards lifting the South Lincs & Border League title by beating previously second placed Skegness by 98 runs.
With four games to go, Sutton lead closest rivals Newborough by 43 points with a maximum of 20 points available from each game.
The visitors did not have things all their own way though and were struggling on 14/3 until the arrival of Paul Edgeller.
He went on to score his first 107 of the weekend, this time finishing unbeaten from 101 balls, scoring a pair of 6s and 13 4s.
He shared a 69-run fourth-wicket stand with Tim Norris (36) before enjoying a 68-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Barry Stanway (41). That provided the foundations for a decent 232/6 from their 45 overs.
The target proved way beyond Skegness, who were bowled out for 134 after Daniel Oldfield (3-9) had reduced them to 23/3.
Jacob Gray chipped in with a similar return from his 3.4 overs after Jake Burton (2-39) and Charlie Crisp (2-30) had taken two wickets each.
l Moulton Harrox kept up their own promotion charge with a seven-wicket win against Boston.
That leaves them six points of second place but with a game in hand.
After reaching 61 without loss, the visitors lost their way and, from 160/5 collapsed to 187 all out. Matthew Rose (3-35), Lee Eyett (2-24) and Jamie Kitchen (2-48) were the pick of the home bowlers.
After the loss of opener Matthew Barnett for a duck, Harrox were relatively untroubled in their pursuit of victory. Josh Newton ended unbeaten on 95 and was supported by Kitchen (29no), Jamie Juckes (27) and captain Chris Beale (22).
l In Division One, Spalding Seconds suffered a thrashing at Baston, losing by 69 runs after scoring just 64 in reply to the hosts’ 133/9.
Robert Seymour did his best to earn victory for his team, taking 5-12 from nine overs, with four maidens, and a target of 133 looked well within reach. However, wickets tumbled rapidly and they were 34/7 before rallying slightly, only to lose their last two wickets for no score. Ben Sacker (27) and Jack Bowser (17) were the only batsmen to score more than five runs.
l Moulton Harrox Seconds were also beaten, losing by 25 runs at Boston Seconds.
Anish Suwarneraj was in impressive form, taking 6-20, as the hosts scored 145 from their 45 overs.
Four Moulton batsmen got to 20 but were unable to push on with Mohammed Alam (34), Ruari Drumm (23), Lewis Marton (21) and Karl Ibbert (20) falling just when it looked as if they were set to score well and their team were out for 145.
Sunday action in Division Two saw Spalding Thirds thumped at home by bottom team Freiston, Leake and Leverton Seconds. The visitors rattled up 234/6, with the Spalding response ending on just 63.
Leaders Long Sutton Thirds got their points without having to lace their boots after being awarded a walkover against Uffington. It leaves them 15 points clear of Royal Boston, but from one game more and with six still to play.
