Long Sutton 1st pulled off an amazing comeback to beat last season’s South Lincs and Border League Premier Division runners-up Sleaford 2nd by one wicket.
Chasing 129 to win, Sutton looked set for a crushing defeat when they were reduced to 59-8.
But amazing knocks from number nine Jake Burton (27 not out) and number ten Rob Simpson (35) took them to 119-9 before Stef Fox helped Burton get them over the line in the 55th over.
With several players missing through injury and unavailability, Sutton won the toss and elected to bowl at Paradise Field.
Barry Stanway bowled with his usual pace and aggression, but it was the medium pace of Dan Oldfield that picked up two early wickets, including a remarkable Ben Stokes-esque diving one-handed catch in the gully from Burton.
At 30-4 Sleaford looked in trouble, but an onslaught of boundaries from Ben Lambert got the innings back on track.
However, the introduction of spin twins Simpson (3-15) and Burton (2-20) slowed things down – and it proved one shot too many for Lambert as Stanway held a fine steeping catch on the boundary.
Wickets continued to tumble and Sleaford were dismissed for 128 in the 32nd over, leaving Sutton 129 to win in 58 overs.
Sutton made a steady start with opening pair Jimmy Wright and Phil Barnes seeing off the new ball.
Yet, taking pace off the ball from Giles Goddard, Sumit Puri and Kieran Harbron saw a flurry of wickets fall.
Luke Barnes joined his father Phil at the crease and showed real maturity under an increasing amount of pressure to try and get Sutton back on track.
But when they both fell to the spin of Harbron, Sutton were 59-8 and Sleaford were on the verge of victory.
Amazingly, Sutton’s own spinners had different ideas and set about chasing the target. A combination of flamboyant strokes from Simpson and some nudging and nurdling from Burton got Sutton back on track.
Simpson fell for a fine 35 and, with ten runs needed, the momentum once again swung.
Number 11 Stef Fox saw out an over under immense pressure and it was left to Burton to score the winning runs and pull off an incredible one-wicket win in what was very near darkness.
Captain Phil Barnes said: “I am incredibly happy with the team spirit we have here, our never say die attitude came through and helped us pull off one of the finest wins I have been involved in.”
Meanwhile, Sutton have confirmed that Joe Broomfield will play for them this season in the South Lincs and Border League.
There had been some dispute over his signature, with former club Moulton Harrox hopeful of keeping hold of their man.
However, Sutton confirmed on Tuesday that he’s signed for them.
Broomfield will still play for Harrox in the Rutland League, which is played on Sundays.
