Unbeaten Spalding Town climbed to the top of the South Lincs and Border League Premier Division table with a five-wicket win over Sleaford 2nd on Saturday.
Hosts Town limited fellow high-fliers Sleaford to 143-8 batting first at the Memorial Field, with Roy Tilley taking fine figures of 4-44.
Solid knocks from Jon Manton (39), Joe Broomfield (29) and Jon Miles (29) then steered Spalding to 146-5 in 43.1 overs to secure the victory and an 18-point haul.
The victory, Town’s fifth from six matches (the other was abandoned), leaves them seven points clear of nearest challengers Freiston with a game in hand.
Having won the toss and elected to field, Spalding made early inroads with the ball when Tilley (4-44) got rid of opener Aayush Patel (9)
However, that allowed Simon Godby (32) and skipper Kurt Colyn (53) to put on a solid stand for the second wicket.
That partnership set a solid foundation for the Sleaford innings, before Joe Broomfield (1-18) had Godby caught behind by Rob Ambrose.
That triggered something of a collapse, with Tilley snaring Oliver Bean (5) caught and bowled and Miles bowling Daniel Hutson (4).
Not done there, Miles shattered Colyn’s stumps just after his half-century, while Tilley bowled Matt Bean (0) and then trapped Thomas Wormington LBW (1) the very next ball to leave himself on a hat-trick.
That never materialised, but Brandon Andrews did manage to run out Kieran Harbron for 18 as they looked to wrap up the Sleaford innings.
However, Gianlucca Bucci (7 not out) and Harvey Harris (1 not out) held firm and denied Spalding the additional two bowling bonus points by reaching 45 overs unbeaten.
Town were favourites as they began their reply – and they made a solid start, with Manton and Broomfield enjoying a solid opening stand.
Both were dismissed when well set, with Manton dismissed by Harbron (2-57) and Broomfield falling victim to Giles Goddard (1-16).
Skipper Josh Newton (4) then went cheaply as Harbron struck again, but Miles and Ben Smith steadied the ship.
Miles made a valuable 29 before becoming Wormington’s only victim (1-43), while Smith made 15 only to fall to Godby (1-32).
That left Josh Lawrence (5 not out) and Chris Dring (6 not out) to get Town over the line with 11 balls to spare.
Next up for Newton’s side is a trip to mid-table Woodhall Spa 2nd this Saturday (1pm).
Spa enjoyed a convincing eight-wicket victory over Stamford Town over the weekend in what was their first victory of the season.
- Town’s top batsmen (runs): Joe Broomfield 194 (av 38.80); Josh Newton 158 (av 79); Jon Manton 103 (av 25.75).
- Top bowlers (wickets): Jonathan Miles 11 (s/r 21.82); Roy Tilley 8 (s/r 15.75); Brandon Andrews 6 (s/r 39).
