Long Sutton were in two thrillers at the weekend, coming out on top in one and missing out in the other.
It was Saturday’s South Lincs and Border League East Division opener against Boston Town that they missed out on, losing by just 10 runs.
Boston batted first and Sutton’s Barry Stanway (2-31) gave them a good start bowling opener Shaun Moore for a duck with the score on 21 before having opener William Tether (32) caught by Adam Wright leaving Boston 52-2.
But Peter Mitchell (40) and Ben Troops came together for a partnership of 37 of which Troops provided just three.
He accelerated thereafter on his way to 48 helping his side up to 156 before Liam Bent (11 not out) and Damian Lawrence (12 not out) helped their side to 171-5 at the end of the 40 overs.
Josh Baker (1-42), Rob Simpson (1-24) and Ed Munson (1-46) took the other wickets to fall.
Dan Oldfield (22) and Chris Booth (23) gave Sutton a decent start to the reply but when they both fell and Josh Baker went without troubling the scorers, the home side were suddenly 59-3.
Adam Wright had started his innings by that point and he and Stanway (31) added 37 for the fourth wicket.
Connie Gittins (4) then anchored a further partnership of 52 as Wright looked to bring his side home.
It was a fine knock of 71 but it came to a close as Long Sutton went for the win.
He was out stumped and the third wicket to fall within seven runs as the home side looked for the killer blow but fell to 155-7.
Only six more runs could be added to the total as Long Sutton closed on 161-7, picking up five points to Boston’s 16.
* Long Sutton Sunday XI won a high scoring thriller in their Rutland League Division Thee match at Ketton Sports on Sunday.
Both sides enjoyed the wicket which Sutton enjoyed first use of and amassed an impress that included centuries from both Dan Oldfield and Josh Baker.
Ketton came close to topping that total and came within five runs before being bowled out with eight balls left to make it two wins out of two in the Rutland League for Long Sutton.