SEASIDERS STRETCH LEAD IN LINCS ECB PREM

READERS LINCOLNSHIRE ECB PREMIER LEAGUE

June 2 games reviewed by ANN BOULTON

Skegness stretched their lead to five points at the top of Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League, thanks to skipper Saeed Bariwala.

Chasing the seasiders’ modest 165, Haxey were looking dangerous on 103 for three but Bariwala ended the day with figures of eight for 35 as the visitors were all out for 130.

But the day’s “nail-biter” game took place lower down the league.  Grimsby visited Outgang Road where one over from Alex Wheatley’s contributed to their collapse from 160 for six to 164 all out.  Wheatley’s only six balls of the game brought him two wickets for three runs after Carl Taylor had hit 73 for the visitors.

Deeping then quickly found themselves in trouble with three wickets down for only nine runs but the middle and lower orders dug in and the home side eventually claimed a slender two wicket victory to move up to fifth in the table.

Woodhall retained second place with a winning draw at home to Bourne.  Steady batting right down the Spa order took the total to 262 for seven but the visitors hung on for an extra three points, finishing on 213 for eight, Ben Stroud contributing 52.

Current champions Bracebridge went above Haxey to go third, seven points behind the leaders after a resounding win over Sleaford.

Former Lincolnshire wicketkeeper Hymie Bentley moved up the Bracebridge order to open and hit 105 runs off 115 balls.  Fellow opener Nick John was run out on 52 while Vikram Atri was unbeaten on 68 as the current champions racked up 309 for five.

In reply, Sleaford began disastrously, each of their top four batsmen out for a duck.  Jonathan Darke took three wickets in his first over, one a tremendous catch by Jason Trembath to dismiss Sleaford captain Oliver Burford and Bentley claimed three catches behind the stumps as the final wicket fell on 58.

This pushed Sleaford down a place, below Lindum who beat Boston after setting their hosts a modest target of 164 of which Ben Powell made 58.  Tom Baxter took six wickets for Boston but Karanjit Bansal and Jon Miller were also on good bowling form, Bansal taking four wickets as the Mayflower team were all out for 142.

However, this gave Boston six points, one more than Hartsholme who slipped to the bottom of the table despite finishing their innings on 222 for eight at home to Louth, Henry Rush with 69 and Tom Brooks 51. 

Arran Brindle then hit 84 for Louth who claimed victory on 226 for four with Graham West 51 not out.

Results

Bracebridge Heath 309-5 (Bentley 105, John 52, Atri 68no), Sleaford 58;

Skegness 165 (Pringle 52), Haxey 130 (Bariwala 8-35);

Grimsby 164 (Taylor 73), Market Deeping 166-8;

Lindum 164 (Powell 58, Baxter 6-49), Boston 142;

Woodhall Spa 262-7, Bourne 213-8 (Stroud 52);

Hartsholme 222-8 (Rush 69, Brooks 51), Louth 226-4 (Brindle 84, G West 51no);

	P	W	L	Draw	NR	Bat	Bowl	Draw	Win	Total
Skegness	7	4	1	0	10	22	23	0	40	95
Woodhall Spa	7	3	0	1	15	20	18	7	30	90
Bracebridge Heath	7	3	0	1	15	18	16	9	30	88
Haxey	7	3	2	0	10	16	21	0	30	77
Market Deeping	7	2	0	1	20	14	13	3	20	70
Bourne	7	1	1	2	15	16	13	10	10	64