Spalding Town 1st held on to collect a losing draw against much-fancied Bourne 1st in the Lincs ECB Premier League on Saturday.
On a rain-hit day across the league, Town won the toss and elected to bat first at Spalding Grammar School.
That proved no problem for big-hitting Bourne, who racked up 260-5 thanks to top knocks from Stuart Airey (81), Carl Wilson (46), Peter Morgan (41) and Ben Stroud (38).
Charlie Kearns (2-71) and Thivanka Rajaratne (2-69) were the pick of the Town bowlers.
In reply, Rajaratne (58) top scored as Spalding reached 176-8 in their 50 overs. But it was defiant knocks from skipper Rob Ambrose (25no) and Jack Barratt (20) towards the end that stopped Colin Cheer (5-66) and his Bourne team mates from taking the two wickets they needed to seal the win.
Bourne take 17points from the game and climb above Spalding (6 points) into second in the standings. Town drop to fourth, but are just nine points off the summit.
Results: Louth 123, Bracebridge Heath 65 (Carrington 5-33); Bourne 260-5 (Airey 81), Spalding 176-8 (Rajarathne 58, Cheer 5-66); Woodhall Spa 223-9 (Sargeant 65), Sleaford 155-8 (Hibberd 62no); Skegness 145-7 v Billingborough – abandoned; Grimsby 141-7 (Singh 63) v Lindum – abandoned; Market Rasen v Market Deeping – abandoned.
