Spalding Town Ladies (61-3) beat Lincoln Lindum Ladies (60) by 7 wickets
Spalding Town Ladies claimed a comprehensive victory over Lindum in their first ever match in the Lincolnshire Women’s Cricket League on Sunday.
Captain Sarah Barratt helped lift some early-season nerves by winning the toss for the visitors – and she had no hesitation in electing to field first.
This proved to be a great decision, as opening bowlers Hayley Jones (2-16) and Dani Jex (2-15) tore through the top order, reducing the opposition to 26-4 from eight overs.
Spalding continued to pile on the pressure as Barratt (2-13) and player-of-the-match Sam Featherstone (3-13) kept things tight.
Coupled with very sharp fielding, hosts Lindum struggled to 60 all out inside 19 overs.
Vikki Lowe was the only player to offer some resistance for Lindum with a very well played 23.
With confidence high and 41 overs to chase 61 runs, Spalding confidently set about knocking off the total in their reply.
Helped with some early extras, Ellie Burton (4) and Featherstone (2) kept the score ticking over for Spalding, who were up to 12 from four overs.
Two wickets in the space of two overs set Spalding back, but a match-winning partnership form Ellie Stanley (21no) and Jones (17) meant that the score was 57 before Jones was trapped LBW.
Two fantastic cover drives from Amelia Gardner (4 not out) then meant the game was wrapped up within the 13th over.
Delighted skipper Barratt said: “It was a fantastic performance from all of the ladies involved.
“An excellent result, played with a superb team spirit.
“All the ladies are buzzing from the result, and rightly so.
“We are hoping to take the performance into the next game.”
Next up for Spalding’s ladies is a home date with Market Rasen women’s 1st in the league. That’s at Spalding Grammar School this Sunday (1pm).
- The number 13 proved unlucky for Spalding Town Ladies as they came up just short in a run chase at Hampton in a friendly on Saturday.
After winning the toss and electing to field, Spalding started strongly as they bowled some good lines. That didn’t deter Jo Knell (21) though, who pushed the Hampton score to 26 without loss from five overs.
Dani Jex eventually first wicket fell with the score on 27 and the scoring slowed as Spalding started to build pressure.
But, with overs running out and wickets in hand, Hampton pushed on with Zoe Watkins (26no) smashing the ball to all parts of the ground.
The hosts finished their innings on 98 for 4, with Sarah Barratt (1-11) and Ellie Burton (1-19) the other wickets takers. Burton was also on-hand to run-out Knell.
In reply, Spalding struggled as they lost two wickets in the first four overs.
Skipper Barratt (4) and Burton (0) were the women out to leave them toiling on 14-2.
A recovery followed as Hayley Jones (38) and Sam Featherstone (10) put on a strong partnership to taking the score to 66 before the latter was caught behind.
Despite the efforts of the remaining batswomen, Spalding required 18 from the final over.
Some super shots and good running wasn’t quite enough though and they fell 13 runs short of the total.
The game did, however, serve as perfect preparation for Sunday’s league win over Lindum (report above).
