Spalding 2nd (244-2) v Long Sutton 2nd (120-8) (match abandoned)
Spalding Town 2nd skipper Steve Norris toasted the best performance of their season after seeing his side clinch promotion to the Premier Division of the South Lincs and Border League on the final day.
Simon Juckes clubbed 93 off just 48 balls as Town made 244-2 batting first at Paradise Field on Saturday.
He was aided by equally impressive knocks from Mike Kearns (79) and captain Norris (57) in a brilliant 45-over effort from Spalding.
Sutton, who were fighting to stave off relegation from Division One themselves, were saved by a defiant 64 not out from Phil Barnes.
They stumbled to 120-8 from 42 overs before the game was abandoned due to very poor light conditions.
With both sides achieving their goal for the day, there were few complaints from either side – and nobody was happier than Norris.
He said: “It was the performance of the season! There was a great deal of pressure on us after last weekend’s results put us back into the frame, after we had looked out of it.
“The lads up top were just magnificent and I am proud of all the team. It’s a shame the light went before the end of the match, but I have a very happy dressing room.
“We’ve shown great character. Despite being one of the favourites, we lost the first four games.
“So to go and secure the second’s first-ever season in the top flight of the South Lincs and Border League is amazing. We all can’t wait for 2015.”
Having lost the toss, Town were forced to bat first under heavy skies. Kearns was dropped in the slips early on, but both he and Norris soon settled against the testing bowling of Rob Simpson and Dan Oldfield.
The pair built a superb partnership and accelerated through the gears as they passed 100. Norris finally departed in the 29th over with the score on 113 – but that only served in bringing Juckes to the crease.
There was some amazing hitting with all of the bowlers shown no mercy, with the talented number three playing an ‘IPL style’ innings with six sixes being struck.
He passed 50 after 34 balls and then went berserk with his last 43 coming off just 14 balls, with the valiant Jimmy Taylor sticking to the task despite bringing up three figures off his 11 overs.
Barnes eventually dismissed him with a fiendishly swinging ball, but Ansar Hussain (6 not out) and Kearns added vital runs at the death.
That virtually secured promotion for Town, but they were hungry to complete their season in style with a big derby win.
With Long Sutton needing to score 100 to be automatically safe from relegation, the were under pressure from the off.
Despite Andrew Wright (19) and Barnes doing well at the top of the innings, wickets from Hussain (2-17), Nohman Ahmad (2-17), Sanj Tott (1-16), James Hook (1-4) and skipper Norris (2-23) had them on the brink of disaster at 87-7.
But with the assured Barnes there the target always looked in reach.
After being watchful for 37 overs, he went into attacking mode – hitting 30 runs off the last four overs of the innings to reach a well-deserved 50 before play was called off with both sides happy.
South Lincs and Border League
Premier Division
Results: Sleaford 2nd 241 (Hibbert 56), Moulton Harrox 244-5 (Broomfield 61); Long Sutton 160, Welby 161-6 (Whatton 53, Tickler 52).
Champions: Grantham.
Relegated: Welby and Skegness 2nd.
Top run scorers: 750 – Simon Godby (Sleaford 2nd); 585 – Stewart Mudie (Grantham); 525 – Rob Bee (Woodhall Spa 2nd); 485 – Kieran Evans (Boston); 424 – Simon Bray (Lindum 2nd).
Top South Holland run scorer: 375 – Jack Barnett (Moulton)
Most wickets: 52 – Tom Baxter (Boston); 47 – Maxwell Cusack (Moulton); 39 Neil Stevenson (Grantham).
Division One
Results: Cavaliers 279 (Taylor 95), Friskney 161 (Griffiths 71); Grantham 2nd 221-7 (Bates 113no), Woodlands 46; Billingborough 2nd 316-4 (King 176no, Stanley 86), Baston 51 (George 6-21); Spalding 2nd 244-2 (Jukes 93, Norris 57, M Kearns snr 79no), Long Sutton 2nd 120-8 – abandoned, bad light.
Champions: Grantham 2nd.
Promoted: Spalding 2nd.
Relegated: Friskney and Baston.
Top run scorers: 586 – Ansar Hussain (Spalding 2nd); 552 – Chris Morley (Heckington); 466 – Danny Bates (Grantham); 418 – M Stanley (B’borough).
Most wickets: 43 – Rob Simpson (Long Sutton 2nd) and Sarath Updadhya (Woodlands).
