Long Sutton 1st (89-5) beat Belton Park 1st (88) by 5 wickets
Brilliant Barry Stanway took 7-32 as Long Sutton continued their South Lincs and Border League Premier Division winning streak with another 20-point success at Paradise Field on Saturday.
It was a display of individual brilliance from paceman, who obliterated the Belton Park line-up almost single-handedly to leave them all out for 88.
Phil Barnes (25 not out) and Adam Wright (35) then steered Sutton home with five wickets to spare.
Satisfied skipper Matt Bull said: “Barry is one of the best bowlers in Lincolnshire and when he bowls like that, not many batsmen can handle him.
“Adam and Phil both made batting look straightforward on that pitch. It wasn’t the easiest to get in on but once they did, both looked comfortable.”
Sutton won the toss and stuck to their mantra of bowling teams out with their industrious attack – despite the tropical conditions at Paradise Field.
The home side immediately seized control through Stanway as he clean bowled four of Belton Park’s top five in his opening five overs.
Jimmy Wright (2-27) then continued the good work, removing the stubborn Rohan Perera (18) and then Mark Wheeler (0) shortly afterwards.
Not to be outdone, Stanway bowled a treble wicket maiden to pick up his seventh wicket of the day.
The red-hot ace still had overs left as he sought his eighth victim and potentially career-best figures – but he couldn’t do this as it was left to Jake Burton to finish the job with only his fourth ball.
In reply, Sutton’s opening pair of the flamboyant strokemaker Chris Booth and more patient accumulator Barnes began solidly before Booth was strangled down the leg side for 10.
However, Barnes and Adam Wright batted expertly on a pitch which aided the knowledgeable Sutton batsmen.
Wright eventually perished for a well-made 35 as Sutton were within reach of the total.
A flurry of late wickets then saw Paul Edgeller (8), Steve Skoulding (2) and Jimmy Wright (3) all fall – but Barnes saw his side home to complete another victory.
Now in the top six of the standings, Sutton make the trip to Sleaford 2nd this Saturday (1.30pm) as they bid to make it four wins on the trot.
