BRACEBRIDGE REGAIN TITLE

By Ann Boulton

Bracebridge regained the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League title with a victory over last year’s champions Bourne who had to settle for second place at the end of a hard-fought campaign.
But Fahad Masood ensured that the leaders didn’t have things all their own way as, after coasting to 188 for two in the 38th over, Bracebridge lost three wickets to the Pakistan bowler in the 39th and two more in the 41st.
Masood finished with seven wickets – taking his total for the season to 81 - as the home side slumped to 202 all out then went on to score 76 runs but could not keep his team in the hunt for the title as excellent fielding and catching from Bracebridge and five wickets for Ashley Schultz saw Bourne bowled out for 148.
At the bottom of the table, Nettleham came within 11 tantalising runs of their coveted first win of the season as they chased Market Deeping’s 252 for seven. Dan Wright hit 85 as the visitors were finally bowled out for 241.
Skegness lost their battle to avoid finishing in the relegation zone after Louth made the day’s highest score of 290 for seven at London Road. Brothers Graham and Stewart West each made a half-century and Matt Crowther finished unbeaten on 97. Stewart West then went on to take five wickets as the seasiders were bowled out for 186.
Nettleham and Skegness must now wait until the league meeting on September 21 when promotion and relegation issues will be decided.
The other two contenders for 11th place made themselves safe with 20 point wins. Nathan Poundall scored the day’s only century with 110 to take Hartsholme to 225 for six before Lindum were bowled out for 129. But Woodhall Spa faced a much harder task as they overcame third placed Boston by just one wicket.
And in mid-table, Sleaford’s winning run came to an end at London Road as George Linde took seven wickets to restrict the home side to 195. Jim Morgan then hit 97 in Grimsby’s four wicket win.

Results
Bracebridge Heath 202 (Houston 77, Cook 70, Masood 7-58), Bourne 148 (Masood 76, Schultz 5-72)
Hartsholme 225-6 (Poundall 110), Lindum 129;
Louth 290-7 (S West 56, G West 59, Crowther 97no), Skegness 186 (S West 5-73);
Market Deeping 252-7 (Gillett 63, McDougall 57no), Nettleham 241 (Wright 85);
Sleaford 195 (Shorthouse 58, Linde 7-43), Grimsby 199-6 (Morgan 97);
Boston 163, Woodhall Spa 164-9;

Team P W L Draw Ab/Can Bat Bowl Win Draw Ab/Can Total
Bracebridge Heath 21 12 2 3 4 79 72 112 27 29 319
Bourne 21 11 6 3 1 73 84 110 19 8 294
Boston 21 10 6 4 1 63 74 100 26 8 271
Louth 21 8 6 4 3 65 66 80 20 24 255
Market Deeping 21 8 5 5 3 71 63 80 13 24 251
Sleaford 21 8 8 4 1 76 63 80 24 8 251
Grimsby 21 9 7 2 2 70 63 90 12 13 248
Woodhall Spa 21 6 8 6 1 67 66 60 24 8 225
Hartsholme 21 5 6 7 3 65 60 50 25 21 221
Lindum 21 7 9 2 3 51 63 70 12 24 220
Skegness 21 4 10 5 2 63 51 40 29 13 196
Nettleham 21 0 14 3 4 37 39 0 9 26 111