Spalding Town’s relegation from the Lincs ECB Premier Division was confirmed on Saturday after a six-wicket defeat at high-flying Grantham.
Having won the toss and elected to bat, Spalding were bowled out for just 119 in 38.5 overs with Jordan Butcher (37) top scoring.
Grantham then knocked off the runs in 24 overs, despite three more wickets from the ever-impressive Jonathan Miles (3-49).
The defeat – Town’s 15th from 20 games so far – leaves them 52 points from safety with two games remaining.
They would still have had a chance to pull off a great escape was it not for the 24 penalty points received for fielding the ineligible Hafiz Majeed earlier in the season.
Daniel Freeman was the scourge of the Spalding innings, taking an impressive 7-29 in a 14-over spell.
That included all of the top five, with Faisal Javed (4), Warren Nel (14), Josh Newton (12), Miles (16) and Tim Norris (1) all falling under Freeman’s spell.
Butcher and Josh Lawrence (15) did at least take the tally into three figures, but Town knew they’d have a tough job defending 119.
Despite Lawrence (1-36) and and Miles getting rid of James Dobson (3) and Ross Carnelley (21), Grantham recovered from 35-2 to ease home. Miles did get Sam Peters (12) and Matt Dowman (9), but Freeman (39 not out) and Dan Webb (20) put on an unbeaten 49 for the fifth wicket.
Town visit Boston this Saturday (noon).
