A virtuoso all-round display from Hafiz Majeed helped Spalding Town extend their lead at the top of South Lincs and Border League Premier Division to 20 points on Saturday.
Town collected a maximum 20-point haul after beating Sleaford 2nd by six wickets at the Memorial Field, with Pakistan ace Majeed taking 5-25 with the ball and making an unbeaten 60 with the bat.
It’s now six wins on the bounce from Rob Ambrose’s side, who visit Stamford Town this Saturday (1.30pm).
Sleaford won the toss and made a solid start with the bat, with ex-Town ace Luke Hollingworth (24) and Simon Godby (19) taking them to 45 without loss.
But both were removed by an inspired Cameron Roy (2-34), who impressed with the ball having stepped up from the second team.
Number three David Harrop didn’t last long as Majeed clean bowled him to pick up the first of his five wickets and reduce the visitors to 52-7.
Sleaford skipper Ben Bulmer was caught by Will Barnes off Majeed’s bowling for a duck, while Cameron Hall also went without troubling the scorers after being trapped LBW.
Amazingly, Majeed then clean bowled David Cobb and Rhys Collings for ducks to complete his five-fer.
That left Jack Barratt (2-13) to get rid of the defiant Kurt Colyn (17), while Roy Tilley (1-13) saw off Conor Harbron.
Mason Mansfield managed 15 not out to edge Sleaford closer to 100, but the innings was over when Barratt castled Giles Goddard’s (2) stumps.
Town’s reply got off to the worst possible start as skipper Ambrose was dismissed for a duck by Rhys Collings to leave them on 0-1, but Josh Newton (18) and Majeed eased them to 55-1.
Mansfield did have Newton caught and Hollingworth trapped Smith LBW for just one to make the score 60-3, but Majeed remained defiant as he passed 50.
Young gun David Thomas (4) also perished when Harbron clean bowled him, but Tim Norris (3no) and Majeed eased Spalding to 100-4 in the 31st over.
