Long Sutton got their South Lincs and Border League Premier Division title challenge back on track with an impressive four-wicket win at neighbours Boston on Saturday.
Hosts Boston chose to bat first at the Mayflower after winning the toss and posted a solid 206-4, with opener Ben Troops making an unbeaten 104 and number three Tom Baxter adding 55.
Sutton’s reply spread the runs out a little more, with Paul Edgeller (69), Dan Oldfield (43) and Calvin Bird (37) all scoring nicely as they made a fine 209-6 in just 40.4 overs.
That secured an 17-point haul for Jake Burton’s third-placed side, who are now seven points off second spot.
Boston began brightly, with Troops the dominant partner in a 67-run opening partnership with skipper Rowan Evans (15).
The spin of Jake Burton finally removed Evans, who he had caught by Daniel Plant.
Troops and Baxter then added 103 for the second wicket, taking the score to 170-2.
Baxter’s 55 came from just 60 balls and included nine fours before he was bowled by Charlie Crisp (1-37).
Troops, who scored at a steady rate of 63.03 in his 165-ball 104, made 13 fours.
But, after Baxter’s departure at the other end, he lost two other partners with Adam Whitaker (1-52) removing Liam Brooks (5) and then running out Luke Gilding (9).
Still, Troops was there at the death to set Sutton a tricky-looking 210 to win.
They made a nightmare start to their reply, however, with opener Adam Wright out bowled by Tim Bell (2-55) for a six-ball duck to leave them at 0-1.
However, Bird and Oldfield got Sutton back on track with a strong 64-run stand for the second wicket.
Oldfield was the aggressor, with his 43 runs coming from just 35 balls and including nine boundaries.
But it was he who fell as one of Baxter’s (3-65) three victims.
Another one of those was Tim Norris, who Baxter bagged for a three-ball duck to leave Sutton on 65-3.
However, Edgeller joined Bird at the crease and the pair put on a vital 52 runs together to build the foundations on which the game was won.
Baxter eventually broke their partnership by removing Bird’s responsible 64-ball knock.
But Edgeller and Ed Barnes (28 not out) stepped up and shared a 71-run partnership to take the game away from Boston.
Bell bowled Edgeller for an almost run-a-ball 69 after he’d hit seven fours and Andrew Hewiit (1-48) got rid of Daniel Plant (2).
But Barnes and Whitaker (8 not out) held their nerve to finish the job.
Next up for Sutton is a potentially huge trip to second-placed Loughborough on Saturday (1pm)
