Bracebridge Heath (192-8) beat Spalding Town (149) by 43 runs
Skipper Rob Ambrose was left gutted as Spalding Town suffered an agonising last-over defeat against Bracebridge Heath in the Lincs ECB Premier League on Saturday.
It was a wet day across the county, with conditions favouring the bowlers at Spalding Grammar School. Bracebridge won with just four balls to spare, bowling Town out for 149 having made 192-8 batting first – the league’s top score of the day with.
Charlie Kearns (2-27) did get rid of their opening duo to leave the visitors toiling on 14-2, but 36 from Brett Houston and a 76-run partnership between Hymie Bentley (46) and Stuart Fraser-Cattanach (28) saw title hopefuls Heath set a tough target.
Thivanka Rajaratne (3-26), Jack Barratt (2-41) and Nuwan Jayasena (1-68) were the other Town wicket takers.
In reply, Spalding slumped to 40-3 after losing Warren Nel (4), Thivanka Rajaratne (24) and Nuwan Jayasena (0). Chris Dring (24) joined Josh Newton to add 43 before Newton and Kearns (19) added 35 for the sixth wicket.
But when Newton became Matt Bradley’s third victim, stumped on 44 with the score on 137-8, Town were forced to try and hang on for a losing draw.
Luke Whitworth (10no) and Ambrose (4) did their best to hang on, but Matthew Bradley (5-24) cleaned up the tail with just four balls to spare – Tom Dale (0) the last man out with the score on 149.
A downbeat Ambrose said: “I’m disappointed to have lost if I’m honest. I suppose we only lost three points, but when you get yourselves in a good position it always feels worse.
“I thought we bowled and fielded well to keep them below 200, but Josh Newton ran out of partners in our reply. We were ticking along nicely at one stage, but they are a good side and it’s always tough.
“I’m a bit disappointed in myself to get out at the end, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.”
- Spalding Town’s Sunday car boots begin at Spalding RFC this Sunday (sellers 6am, buyers 8am). Admission 20p.
