Spalding Town’s bowlers almost helped pull off a remarkable victory against big-hitting Bourne on Saturday – but ultimately another defeat pushed them further towards relegation.
Lincs ECB Premier Division basement boys Town were bowled out for 109 at Spalding Grammar School, before Bourne clinched a four-wicket success by reaching 111-6 in 29 overs.
However, the efforts of Jon Miles (2-49), Shoib Chaudhry (2-33) and Roy Tilley (2-25) had high-flying Bourne reeling at both 7-2 and 69-6 in their reply, meaning the victory was nowhere near as comfortable as it may appear on paper.
Town, needing a win to give themselves any chance of avoiding the drop, won the toss and opted to bat first.
However, they lost stand-in skipper Josh Newton for just one early on, as he became one of Jack Berry’s (3-29) three victims.
Faisal Javed (16) and Warren Nel (15) took the score to 35 before both went to Berry in quick succession, leaving Town on 37-3.
A solid stand of 48 from Jon Miles (29) and Tim Norris (27) took the score on to 85, but when Tom Dixon (4-26) removed both in quick succession, Town soon collapsed to 109 all out in just 37.3 overs.
With Bourne having a reputation for exciting batting, defending 109 was always going to be tough for Town’s bowlers.
Defend it they did, however, with Miles bowling Quewin O’Connor (2) and Chaudhry knocking over Jordan Temple’s (0) stumps with the score on just seven.
Miles also got the key wicket of skipper Peter Morgan (9), while Lincolnshire county star Carl Wilson (1) fell to Chaudhry too.
Tilley then dismissed Berry (15) and Ben Stroud (1) to give Spalding a sniff of glory with 41 still needed by the visitors.
However, Sam Evison (39 not out) and Rob Bentley (28 not out) guided Bourne to glory and all 20 points, leaving Town with just two points for their efforts.
They are now 47 points from safety with just three games left – meaning they could be relegated this weekend if they fail to win at second-placed Grantham on Saturday (noon).
