Spalding Town’s three-year stay in the Lincs ECB Premier League is over after a ten-wicket defeat at Bourne on Saturday confirmed their relegation.
Dan Milgate made 52 as Spalding were bowled out for 177 at the Abbey Lawn, before openers Peter Morgan (101 not out from 42 balls) and Conrad Louth (66 not out from 38 balls) blazed Bourne to the most routine of wins in just 12.5 overs.
The crushing defeat leaves Town 53 points adrift at the foot of the table with two games left – meaning they are guaranteed to go down as basement boys.
Town knew they needed an unlikely win against one of the league’s best batting sides if they were to stand any chance of beating the drop. Skipper Rob Ambrose won the toss and elected to bat first – but disaster struck as Colin Cheer (5-53) bowled Warren Nel for a golden duck with the first ball of the match.
The in-form Josh Newton came in and helped steady the ship a little, but when Jimmy Hook (5) was dismissed by Martin Shillito (1-20) Town were 36-2.
That became 43-3 when teenage wicket-keeper David Thomas became the first of three players to be run out by Sam Evison.
Newton, who made a run-a-ball 41 was the next man out as Cheer returned to strike, before adding the scalp of Patrick Harrington (0) the very next ball to leave Spalding struggling on 60-5.
That brought Tim Norris (34) and Aussie ace Milgate to the crease – and the pair put on 80 for the sixth wicket to steer Town to 140.
Norris was eventually run out by Evison, with Ben Stroud (1-17) snared Milgate shortly after he passed 50.
It was all downhill from there, with the visitors collapsing from 140-5 to 177 all out.
Ambrose (4) was the last Evison run out victim, while Cheer completed his five-fer with the scalps of Charlie Kearns (24 from 15) and Roy Tilley (0).
Town’s total of 177 is 38.1 overs was, at least, enough for three batting bonus points.
Bourne’s reply was utterly brutal, with 178 runs coming in less than 13 overs.
Captain Morgan was the chief destroyer with the most destructive of tons. He clubbed five sixes and 16 fours to reach three figures in just 42 balls.
Louth was no slouch either, as he fired one big six and cracked 13 fours to breeze to an unbeaten 66.
Town’s bowlers took some real stick, with Tilley going for 30 off two overs, Hook shipping 53 from three overs and Harrington conceding 38 from 11 balls.
Even frontline pace ace Kearns was hit for 51 from five overs, as Town slumped to one of the most comprehensive defeats in their recent history.
They must now pick themselves up for Saturday’s final away game of the season at Grimsby Town (noon).
Saturday’s results
Lincs ECB Premier League: Louth 266 (Wettasinghe 128no), Market Deeping 173 (Wheatley 60); Lindum 253-5 (Wright 107no), Market Rasen 202-6; Spalding 177 (Milgate 52, Cheer 5-53), Bourne 178-0 (Morgan 101no, Louth 66no); Bracebridge Heath 190-9 (Houston 68, Peck 5-49), Grantham 65; Sleaford 215-8 (McIntosh 105), Woodhall Spa 132 (Shorthouse 5-48); Skegness 178 (Houghton 60), Grimsby 183-8 (M Cliffe 56, Cuthbert 5-20).
South Lincs & Border League: Premier Division: Bourne 2nd 199 (R Bentley 64, J Bentley 58), Spalding 2nd 56 (T Bentley 5-21); Lindum Ramblers 85 (Simpson 5-10), Long Sutton 86-7; Sleaford 2nd 321-5 (Godby 117, Puri 68, Bulmer 62no), Woodhall Spa 2nd 222-5 (Dixon 91); Moulton Harrox 56, Grantham 2nd 57-3.
Division One: Bourne 2nd 199 (R Bentley 64, J Bentley 58), Spalding 2nd 56 (T Bentley 5-21); Lindum Ramblers 85 (Simpson 5-10), Long Sutton 86-7; Sleaford 2nd 321-5 (Godby 117, Puri 68, Bulmer 62no), Woodhall Spa 2nd 222-5 (Dixon 91); Moulton Harrox 56, Grantham 2nd 57-3.
Division Two: Bourne 2nd 199 (R Bentley 64, J Bentley 58), Spalding 2nd 56 (T Bentley 5-21); Lindum Ramblers 85 (Simpson 5-10), Long Sutton 86-7; Sleaford 2nd 321-5 (Godby 117, Puri 68, Bulmer 62no), Woodhall Spa 2nd 222-5 (Dixon 91); Moulton Harrox 56, Grantham 2nd 57-3.
