Pinchbeck (135-7) lost to Freiston (136-3) by 7 wickets
Pinchbeck were on the receiving end once again last Saturday as promotion chasers Freiston recorded a comfortable seven-wicket win at Spalding Grammar School.
Despite the hot conditions, Freiston elected to field first with seamers Ollie Booth and Tommy Atkinson restricting Pinchbeck’s openers to very few scoring opportunities in the early exchanges. However, they were unable to deliver a breakthrough.
The introduction of Paul Chester brought Freiston reward as he removed Mike Knight (10) and Danny Jackson (0) in successive overs – and with Pinchbeck struggling to tick the scoreboard on they found themselves firmly on the back foot.
Lee Eyett injected some much needed impetus to the innings and notched up seven boundaries in a breezy 36, but when he was stumped off spinner Lenton, Pinchbeck found themselves 70-3 with overs ticking away.
Richard Riley dug in to guide the hosts past a three figure total and frustrated the visitors’ attempts to bowl the hosts out. With the aid of 18 runs from last over Riley managed to pass 50 and ended the innings with an unbeaten 54 to take the total to 135-7.
Sadly for Pinchbeck, their modest total wasn’t enough to thwart Freiston who batting confidently throughout to seal a seven wicket win.
Openers Richard Paul (45) and Mustafa Butt (25) set them on their way with an opening stand of 55, before the latter was bowled by Knight (1-44).
Stewart Kirtley made a brisk 34 to steer the visitors ever closer and, despite a double strike from Eyett (2-30), their victory was sealed inside 23 overs.
