Spalding Town (239-9) beat Bourne (139) by 100 runs
A stunning Spalding Town display handed Lincs ECB Premier League leaders Bourne their first defeat on the season on Saturday.
Young gun Henry Charlton (73) and Ben Smith (81) made impressive contributions in Town’s 239-9 at the Abbey Lawn, with Josh Newton (25) also scoring smartly.
Charlie Kearns (4-52), Jack Barratt (3-20), Nuwan Jayasena (1-42) and Charlton (1-20) then skittled out Bourne’s explosive batting line-up out for just 139 to seal a 100-run success, with Carl Wilson (49) and Rob Bentley (44) the only two to make decent knocks.
The incredible victory, Spalding’s second on the trot, leaves them just 20 points (one big win) off the top four.
Delighted bowler Kearns said: “It was a very good win indeed – made even better by seeing contributions from so many different people.
“Henry and Ben’s partnership was really good to watch. Jack Barratt kept up his good form with the ball and Dave Thomas behind the stumps was superb. Getting four catches in the first game he has kept for us was brilliant to see.
“I was really happy with how Henry and I bowled at the start to put them under some real pressure.
“Having them 16-4 inside seven or eight overs hasn’t happened to Bourne this season, mainly because it is their batting that they rely on most.
“It gave us a massive boost to push on and finish the job and just goes to show, when we play to our potential, we can beat anyone in this league.”
With captain Rob Ambrose on holiday, Tim Norris led the side for the first time – and things looked to have started well as he won the toss and chose to bat on a flat wicket.
Town made a disappointing start to the game as Thivanka Rajaratne (4) was caught off the bowling of Jack Berry in the second over.
But Warren Nel and Josh Newton battled through some hostile bowling from Bourne’s Colin Cheer to take Town to take the score to 43-1 until an almighty mix up resulted in the South African being run out for 14.
Teenager Charlton joined Newton at the crease and quickly showed his current good from with the bat.
The partnership was soon broken with the score on 64, as the partnership of Berry and Louth struck once again to remove Newton for 25.
Town looked to be in trouble as Colin Cheer bowled Kearns for a duck, but Smith joined Charlton and the pair batted sensibly to take the score past 200.
Their 100 partnership saw both pass 50, with Charlton looking destined for three figures before being run out for 73 going for a quick single. Smith continued to score fluently before four quick wickets by Ben Stroud at the back end of the innings slowed Town’s momentum slightly.
However, a late flourish from Smith (81no) helped Town post 239-9.
Town could not have wished for a better start to their reply as Kearns removed Stuart Airey for a duck – and in his next over claimed the wicket of Stroud (9).
It got even better for Town as Charlton trapped the dangerous Conrad Louth for a duck, before Kearns removed skipper Pete Morgan, aided by a smart catch from Thomas with the score 16-4.
A good partnership by Wilson and Bentley still gave Bourne a chance to catch Town’s total, before the introduction of Barratt ended the partnership. It was the prolific Wilson (49) found the gloves of young keeper Thomas once again.
Now sensing victory, Barratt removed Jack Berry (4) and Thomas Dixon (5), leaving Town with four more wickets to get with plenty of overs left to play.
Bentley was run out in a mix-up with James Keywood, before Jayasena was rewarded for some economical bowling as he trapped James Gunthorpe for 0.
Norris threw the ball back to Kearns to finish the game, and he duly delivered as he removed Keywood for 15 and sealed a shock success.
Next up for Town is another tough test in the shape of defending champions Sleaford at home (noon).
But fast bowler Kearns insists that he and his team-mates are in a confident mood. He added: “Now we are on a bit of a roll a win against Sleaford could put us in with a really good chance of a top five finish.”
