Spalding Town missed out on the chance to overtake leaders Bourne 2nd at the top of South Lincs and Borders Premier Division as they lost by 30 runs at home to Freiston.
While the league leaders were being beaten by Long Sutton, Spalding were unable to chase down the visitors’ total on a rain interrupted afternoon.
The visitors to Spalding Grammar School elected to bat on winning the toss and and Brandon Andrews (1-21) and Will Naylor (1-20) picked up early wickets for the hosts.
But Zeeshan Saeed (31) and Usman Ahmed (34) provided a steady platform for Freiston.
They both fell to skipper Jonathan Miles (3-36) but an important knock from number six Abdul Moeed (42) amid some help from the lower order helped the visitors post 187-9.
Spalding’s Jack Barratt took 3-25 and Harry DeCamps 1-45 towards the end of the innings.
In the reply Town lost Jon Manton (5) early but they looked to be on course to win thanks to Miles (33) and Josh Newton who was again among the runs scoring 55.
But Freiston’s bowlers kept the run-rate down and Spalding lost a series of wickets as they looked to get back on track.
Jamie Juckes (24) and number 10 Jack Barratt (10) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures before they were both stumped.
It left Spalding 157 all out after 44 overs condemning them to a second defeat of the season.
For Freiston, Ahmed and Moeed both took 3-36 from 12 overs.
Spalding will hope to get back to winning ways in the Premier Division when they travel to Grantham 2nd in the Premier Division on Saturday.
*Spalding 3rd also endured a failed run chase in South Lincs and Borders Division Two.
They put Billingborough 2nd in with opener Mark Pilgrim (60) providing the hosts with a good start anchored by Murray Tuner who scored seven off 63 balls.
Other batsmen provided support to Pilgrim including Harold Smith (26) as Billingborough scored 158-6.
For Spalding, William Gardner took 2-33, Harry Birch 2-34 and Tom DeCamps 1-22 while William Birch’s 17 overs went for just 13 runs without picking up a wicket.
Spalding’s reply never got going with only Carl Andrews (30) and Nigel Gardner (28) able to trouble the scorers as they slumped to 88 all out after 39 overs for a 60-run defeat.
Callum Scott claimed an impressive 4-21 from 12 overs with Tom Wesley (2-25) and Phoebe Spicer (1-7) taking important wickets before Mark Pilgrim (0-2) wrapped up the tail in seven balls.
* Spalding’s Sunday XI have been deducted 60 points and fallen from second top to second bottom of the Rutland Cricket League Division Three after failing to complete two fixtures in a row.
The points deduction comes after the club conceded the games on back-to-back Sundays, one of which was a game they were due to play on the Sunday of the Cricket World Cup Final.
The disappointment was compounded last Sunday as they did take to the field, but were beaten by league leaders Oakham.
Sunday skipper Brandon Andrews was in good form with the bat after winning the toss and making first use of the Grammar School track.
He scored a fine 59 in Spalding’s 45 over score of 161 for 7.
That’s after opener Ollie Dring (38), Ethan Lawrence (14) and William Barnes (20) had laid a decent foundation.
However Oakham paced their run chase perfectly and sealed a six wicket win in the 43rd over.
The visiting opening pair of Neil Southern (27) and William Faulkner (34) provided a steady start but both fell to Harry DeCamps (2-35).
However Fergus Cato proved to be the thorn in Spalding’s side as he hit an excellent 61.
Though Will Barnes (1-6) had him caught and Peter Cook (1-18) picked up the wicket of Albert Radford (10), the Tobys of Robertson (12 not out) and Coulson (2 not out) saw their side home with two overs to spare.
