Moulton Harrox continued their excellent start to the season as they thrashed Long Sutton in the South Lincs and Border League Championship on Saturday.
Bowling first, skipper Matt Rose led by example, snaring 3-13 with his trademark medium-pace menace.
Curtis Todd kept the pressure on with 3-18 and Harry Lovell delivered his usual calm efficiency with 2-20, while Flynn McMillan chipped in with 2-31.
Long Sutton never really found momentum, crawling to 95 all out.
Barry Stanway top scored with 21 while Daniel Oldfield (20) were the only batsmen other than openers Nathan Oliver (14) and Jacob Guy (10) to reach double figures.
In reply, the familiar opening duo of Jamie Juckes and Ruari Drumm got Moulton off to a flyer.
Juckes swung freely for a punchy 33 before eventually hacking one too many.
Matt Barnett struggled against the Sutton attack, and was unable to get off the mark but stuck around facing 42 deliveries for his unbeaten 0 to support Drumm.
He calmly saw it home with a classy 49 not out, as Moulton cruised to the win in just 16.1 overs.
Joe Whitaker (1-26) took the only wicket to fall for Long Sutton who are still looking for their first win since relegation last year.
* The two sides’ 2nd XI’s also met on Saturday in Division One and this time it was Long Sutton who came out on top.
Moulton elected to bat first but lost talisman Clive Bayston early for just 1, but Lewis Martin and Jamie Parish applied the duct tape with 25 and 16 respectively.
In-form Danny Jackson continued his purple patch with 42, but a cluster of middle-order wickets threatened to derail things.
Cam Fox responded with an unorthodox but vital 31 while youngster Ollie Despicht (29) and new signing Pradeep Indika (23) pushed Moulton to a strong 202/8.
Rob Simpson was the pick of the bowlers taking 3-36, Eranda Kumara claimed 2-37 and there was a wicket each for James Baker (1-23), Charith Harshana (1-32) and Steve Norris (1-38).
Sutton wobbled early, losing two key wickets, one of them Aaron John (9) to the bowling of Indika (1-51).
Fox (2-27) also had Moulton’s hopes up.
But Sutton soon steadied. Despite economical spells from Steve French and Despicht, half-centuries from Phillip Barnes (57 not out) and Charith Hashana (65 not out) wrestled control back, and Sutton chased the target in 38 overs for the loss of three wickets.
* Moulton Harrox’s Sunday side were defeated by Hampton in the Rutland League Division Four East.
They bowled first as Hampton raced to 42 before Ruby Forsyth broke through, grabbing her first senior wicket with an impressive 1-15.
Harry Lovell was back among the wickets with 3-16, and Flynn McMillan took two in a decent all-round effort.
Wickets were shared, but Hampton still posted a hefty 208 all out.
In reply, Paul Bullock departed early, and though Sonal Martin looked fluent for 20, the innings never quite clicked.
McMillan top-scored with 52, while Lovell (16) and Liam Barwick (12) added resistance.
Ultimately, Moulton were all out for 138 putting up a spirited chase, but it was not quite enough
