Spalding Town fell further into the Lincs ECB Premier League relegation mire on Saturday as rivals Grantham handed them a crushing 145-run beating.
Dubbed a “must-win” game for Spalding in the build-up, the season-changing success just never looked like happening as a first-ever top tier ton from Dan Freeman (122) steered Grantham to a hefty 295-4 batting first.
And, despite a defiant 52 from Josh Newton in reply, Town were skittled out for 150 after Joe Peck claimed figures of 6-50.
That saw Spalding collect just three points from the fixture, meaning they are 30 points behind nearest rivals Grimsby Town and a further nine behind Skegness – who sit just outside of the drop zone.
Having won the toss, hosts Grantham were excellent with the bat. Freeman and Karanjit Bansal (35 from 31 balls) put on 71 for the first wicket before the latter fell to Charlie Kearns (1-51).
Josh Mihill (33) then joined the in-form Freeman and the pair put on a stand of 107. Opener Freeman was the aggressor, smashing 11 fours and a six as he reached three figures.
It was Mihill who fell next, though, with Dan Milgate (1-76) the man to break the stand.
Freeman’s innings was finally over when Jack Barratt (1-48) had him caught behind, but Grantham skipper Rohan Nurse (55 not out) and Dan Webb (39) added more runs in the last ten overs before the latter was bowled by Nuwan Jayasena (1-72) in the closing stages.
Town lost young gun Jimmy Hook (1) early in their reply, but hopes of an unlikely run chase did rise when Warren Nel (49) and Josh Newton (52) put on 84 for the second wicket.
Newton, in particular, was in fine form as he cracked ten fours in his 65-ball knock before he was bowled by Peck with the score on 98.
Jaysasena then went for a seven-ball duck as a collapse saw Spalding slip from 98-1 to 128-7. Milgate (1), Paddy Harrington (3), Tim Norris (0) and eventually Nel (49) were the men to fall.
Teenage wicket-keeper David Thomas (15) and bowler Charlie Kearns (9) did offer some resistance down the order, but Bansal (3-37) wrapped up the innings with two late wickets in the 42nd over.
Town must now hope for a much better showing at home to Sleaford – who won by ten wickets on Saturday – next weekend.
Results
Lincs ECB Premier League: Grimsby 94 (Wettasinghe 6-28), Louth 95-3; Bracebridge Heath 209-6 (Cook 88), Skegness 117; Lindum 155-9 (Goacher 6-40), Sleaford 159-0 (McIntosh 89no, Shorthouse 65no); Market Rasen 141, Market Deeping 142-9 (Akhtar 58); Grantham 295-4 (Freeman 122, Nurse 55no), Spalding 150 (Newton 52, Peck 6-50); Woodhall Spa 248-7 (Evison 50 Lovelace 55), Bourne 133 (Dixon 62).
South Lincs & Border League
Premier Division: Belton Park 134 (Simpson 5-33), Long Sutton 96; Boston 353-2 (Croom 130no, Newman 112, Evans 58), Spalding 2nd 132 (Juckes 62no);
Bourne 2nd 136, Woodhall Spa 2nd 137-1 (Timby 97no); Sleaford 2nd 183-8 (Godby 53), Lindum Ramblers 167 (Watkins 75); Billingborough 354-4 (Pullum 129, Harrison 75no), Moulton Harrox 219 (Broomfield 70no, Wilson 67, Brown 5-57); Grantham 2nd 212-5 (Bennett 50no), Stamford Town 147 (Chapman 77).
Division One: Billingborough 2nd 319 (Stanley 158no, Griffiths 120), Grantham 3rd 196; Boston 2nd 224-3 (Morley 56, Musson 51), Freiston 104; Long Sutton 2nd 190-6 (Harrison 70), Lindum 3rd 170 (Sangha 5-49 (all bowled); Market Deeping 2nd 245-6 (McDougall 111), Cavaliers 108 (Shinkins 5-8); Welby 125 (Richardson 61), Skegness 2nd 127-2 (Ainsworth 53, Brant 59).
Division Two: Timberland 203-9 (Orrey 91), Burgh & District 184 (Owen 89no); Graves Park 107, Claypole 108-6; Belton Park 2nd 116 (A Sheardown 50), Pinchbeck 119-3 (Jackson 68no); Boston 3rd 204-4 (Holland 57no), Spalding 3rd 179-7.
