Long Sutton re-discovered their winning touch with a nerve-wracking two-wicket victory over South Holland rivals Moulton Harrox on Saturday.
Having restricted visitors Harrox to just 135-8 at Paradise Field, Sutton edged over the line with four balls to spare in the South Lincs and Border League Premier Division clash.
With Sutton’s bowling attack very much in-form, home skipper Phil Barnes had no hesitation in asking divisional basement boys Moulton to bat first after winning the toss.
Barry Stanway (3-46) and Jimmy Wright (1-14) impressed with the new ball once again, dismissing Tom Wilson (6) and star batsman Jack Cusack (3) cheaply.
However, Matt Barnett (35) continued to dig in and Jack Barnett (41) produced a quick counter attack to put Moulton in a solid position at drinks.
The game changed when Rob Simpson pulled off a stunning catch to dismiss the impressive Jack Barnett off the spin of Jake Burton (2-41), though.
Simpson (2-29) and Burton continued to take regular wickets as the Moulton innings faded away, with only Laurence Price (15 not out) offering any real resistance as Stanway produced an impressive second spell to restrict them to 135-8.
Sutton’s reply started slowly and Chris Booth (2) departed early as Moulton looked to make inroads into the batting order.
Wright (20) and skipper Barnes (22) steadied the ship, but the introduction of spin duo Matt Barnett and Maxwell Cusack saw wickets fall steadily.
Runs, however, did continue to come with all the middle order chipping in with double figures and a growing number of wides.
It was the left to the finisher, Matt Bull, to smash a glorious four straight back down the ground to complete a well-earned victory in the final over.
Sutton’s Simpson said: “It’s always great to win – but to beat our local rivals is so much sweeter.
“Over the last few years we have had the bragging rights and it’s great to retain that.”
Sutton take 19 points from the derby and are now sixth while Harrox’s six-point haul keeps them bottom.
Elsewhere in the Premier Division, Spalding Town 2nd suffered a crushing nine-wicket loss at Woodhall Spa 2nd – collecting no points in the process.
Town were skittled out for just 79, with Spa cruising to 81-1 in reply.
Down in Division One, Long Sutton 2nd suffered a heavy loss at Skegness 2nd.
The hosts posted 218-4 batting first, with David Jacobs (62) and Andrew Sylvester (50no) top scoring.
Sutton 2nd were then dismissed for only 107, as Michael Jackson (5-20) blew them away.
In Division Two, youthful Spalding 3rd were handed an 83-run loss by visitors Belton Park 2nd at the Memorial Field.
Carl Andrews (4-43), Cameron Roy (1-30), young Amelia Gardner (2-34) and the experienced Rick Dale (2-19) all took wickets to bowl Belton out for 167. But only Andrews (28), Rob Manton (16) and Brandon Andrews (16) managed double figures in the Spalding reply as they could only muster 83.
