Spalding Town are now 32 points adrift at the foot of the Lincs ECB Premier League table after suffering a 121-run defeat against Lincoln Lindum on Saturday.
A stunning century from Charles Tomlinson (127 from 101 balls) guided visitors Lindum to a sizeable 281-9 at Spalding Grammar School, before they dismissed Town for 160 in the final over of the match.
Oliver Smith (6-36) was chief destroyer for Lindum, with Chris Dring (42) the only player to make a solid contribution for Rob Ambrose’s side.
Town only managed six bonus points from the contest, while nearest rivals Grantham romped to a five-wicket win over Market Rasen to drop them deeper into the relegation mire.
Spalding won the toss and elected to field – a decision they were probably very happy with when Roy Tilley (1-47) and Charlie Kearns (3-69) struck early to get rid of Adam Lilley (1) and James Kimber (7) to leave Lindum wobbling at 27-2.
However, opener Tomlinson and number four Luke Robinson (59) then set about building a monstrous 168-run partnership for the third wicket.
Tomlinson was the aggressor, clubbing three sixes and 14 fours in his stunning century, while Robinson kept him company with a solid 75-ball knock.
It was the part-time bowling of Ambrose that eventually did for Robinson. But, although Kearns then got rid of Tomlinson, the damage was done with Lidum well set on 211-4.
That allowed Will Taylor (37no) and Harry Dunn (27) to steer the visitors to 281-9, although Dring (3-37) did enjoy a good spell that almost helped Town bowl their opponents out.
With Warren Nel missing, Town were in need of a talisman to anchor their innings. The signs didn’t look good, though, with Steve Norris out for a duck early on.
Dring scored quickly with seven boundaries, but he and young Jimmy Hook (six off 60 balls) both fell with the score on 62.
Josh Newton came and went for eight, before the in-form Ben Smith (20) and youngster Paddy Harrington (13) built a stubborn partnership to take the score past 100.
The dangerous Oliver Smith eventually did for both of them and captain Ambrose, who was dismissed for a second-ball duck.
Teenager wicket-keeper David Thomas (21 not out) and Kearns (10) did their best to steer Spalding to the halfway house of a losing draw, but hopes began to dwindle when the latter became Oliver Smith’s sixth victim.
Another young talent, Jon Manton, was next out for seven, before veteran Tilley was trapped LBW with just two balls remaining to seal Spalding’s fate.
Saturday’s results
Lincs ECB Premier League: Lindum 281-9 (Tomlinson 127, Robinson 59), Spalding Town 160 (Smith 6-36); Sleaford 258-4 (McIntosh 73, Mountain 60no, Cheer 58), Bracebridge Heath 155; Bourne 256-8 (Louth 150no), Grimsby Town 193-9 (Farmery 57, B Stroud 5-16); Market Rasen 82 (Freeman 5-19), Grantham 85-5 (Freeman 51); Woodhall Spa 267 (Evison 54, Botha 54, Adatia 5-49), Market Deeping 163-9 (Bandara 5-35); Louth 116, Skegness 117-5.
South Lincs & Border League
Premier Division: Stamford Town 215-6 (Bennett 87), Lindum Ramblers 216-7 (Lea 51); Long Sutton 131, Woodhall Spa 2nd 132-4 (Anderson 67no); Grantham 2nd 173-8, Spalding 2nd 111 (Juckes 52); Belton Park 330-3dec (Pollard 201no), Moulton Harrox 131 (Cornwell 59); Boston 258-5 (Evans 116), Sleaford 2nd 144; Bourne 2nd 169-8 (Bentley 52), Billingborough 158.
Division One: Market Deeping 2nd 200-3 (McDougall 103, Witt 61), Boston 2nd 178-9; Cavaliers 219-6, Welby 71; Freiston 169, Long Sutton 2nd 70; Billingborough 2nd 274 (Brown 109, Stanley 78), Lindum 3rd 250 (Begley 53).
Division Two: Claypole 291-9 (Pealing 59, King 77, Durham 6-46), Belton Park 2nd 77; Grantham 4th 109, Baston 110-1 (Lamin 52); Burgh & District v Spalding 3rd – cancelled, waterlogged pitch; Boston 3rd v Pinchbeck – cancelled, waterlogged pitch.
