Spalding Town are now just one win away from clinching the South Lincs and Border League Premier Division title after a 34-run success over Woodhall Spa 2nd on Saturday.
A 51 from opener Jon Manton helped Town post 162-9 after opting to bat first at the Memorial Field, with Josh Newton (24) and skipper Jonathan Miles (24) also contributing well.
An impressive bowling display then saw Spa 2nd – third at the start of play – dismissed for 128 in 37.1 overs, with Jamie Juckes (4-30), Will Naylor (3-29), Miles (2-36) and Josh Lawrence (1-21) all getting amongst the wickets.
Brandan Laurenzi (39) and Will Sharpe (30) scored well for Spa, but Spalding collected 18 points to move 23 points clear at the top with two games to play.
Town host Skegness – who are now third – at Spalding Grammar School this Saturday (12.30pm), knowing that victory would seal top spot.
Rivals Bourne 2nd must beat Belton Park and hope that Spalding lose, which would set up a title shoot-out between the pair at the Abbey
Lawn on the final day of the season the following week.
- Also in the SLBL’s top flight, Rob Simpson took five wickets and Phil Oldfield scored a 50 as Long Sutton picked up a six-wicket success over Sleaford 2nd at Paradise Field.
After visitors Sleaford won the toss and opted to bat, they were bowled out for 127 in 39 overs. Simpson (5-38) starred for Sutton, while Beau Newman (2-30), Barry Stanway (1-29) and Josh Baker (1-0) also got in on the act.
Sutton’s reply was confident, with Luke Barnes (29), Raj Sangha (14) and Oldfield (50) all scoring well as they coasted to 130-4 in 32 overs to claim all 20 points.
- Spalding Town 2nd were unable to build on a fine bowling performance as they lost by 37 runs at Heckington in SLBL Division One on Saturday.
Peter Cook (3-21), Mark Laud (2-31), Jack Sawyer (2-13) and Tim Bosco (2-11) all impressed with the ball to bowl hosts Heckington out for just 99 after putting them into bat.
But Town’s second string crumbled to 62 all out in reply, with only Ollie Dring (25) making double figures as Ben Wooster took 7-30.
- In SLBL Division Two, both Spalding Town 3rd and Long Sutton 2nd suffered defeats.
Carl Andrews hit a rapid 51 for Town 3rd (116) as they fell 40 runs shy of their target against Newborough’s 156-9 at the Memorial Field.
Andy Shaw (4-53) and Emmy Gittins (2-16) performed well for Sutton as Belton Park 2nd posted 188-6, but they could only manage 144 in reply with Steven Milnes (34 not out) top scoring.
