SPALDING STILL DOING BLOOMING WELL

SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE & BORDER LEAGUE

Spalding scraped home by eight runs to hang on to top place in South Lincolnshire & Border League Division One but Billingborough and Stamford Town closed the gap as both picked up 20 points to the leaders’ 17.

Spalding were bowled out for 128 by Skegness 2^nd, only reaching that total thanks to a late rally by Jamie Juckes and Luke Whitworth who put on 47 for the eighth wicket.  The Skegness innings then followed much the same pattern, with the middle order pushing the score along but the final wicket fell on 120.

Geordie Scott took his individual total for the season to 865 with an innings of 141 as Billingborough piled on the runs at Woodhall Spa, Dave Newman hitting 98 in an opening stand of 259 with Scott.  The visitors made 327 for five before bowling Woodhall 2^nd out for 181.

Stamford were also among the runs with three players making half centuries in their total of 278 for six.  Sleaford 2^nd were then bowled out for 147.

Lower down the table, Grantham pulled themselves clear of the relegation zone thanks to Darren Ashley’s six for 19 which helped bowl Market Deeping 2^nd out for 68, a total Grantham overtook for the loss of three wickets.

Welby have built an almost insurmountable lead at the top of Division Two following their 10 wicket victory over Thomas Cook in which 17 year old Jake Pollard hit an unbeaten 52 and took five wickets for seven runs.

And at the bottom of the table, Baston recorded a good win over third placed Stamford Town 2^nd to move out of the relegation zone.

Grantham 2^nd made it a successful day for the club when they beat Division Three title hopefuls Claypole by six wickets, Austen Imber adding another unbeaten 60 to his growing runs total.  Leaders Friskney, who were without a game, have only a three point lead over Claypole but have a game in hand.

And Pinchbeck moved off the bottom with a win over Burgh & District.

Results

Division One

Market Deeping 2^nd 68 (Ashley 6-19), Grantham 69-3;

Belton Park 116 (Cusack 5-33), Moulton Harrox 59 (A Sheardown 5-11);

Spalding 128, Skegness 2^nd 120;

Billingborough 327-5 (Scott 141, Newman 98), Woodhall Spa 2^nd 181;

Stamford Town 278-6 (Chappell 78, Williams 57, Bennett snr 56no), Sleaford 2^nd 147;

Lindum Ramblers 146 (Watkins 95), Bourne 2^nd 129;

Division Two

Stamford Town 2^nd 136-7, Baston 137-7;

Billingborough 2^nd 63 (N Gilbert 5-23), Blankney 64-3;

Cavaliers 191-8 (Sweary 61), Heckington 63;

Thomas Cook 83 (Pollard 5-7), Welby 85-0 (Pollard 52no);

Moulton Harrox Sun 138, Spalding 2nd 92 (J Barnett 5-33);

Division Three

Welby 2^nd 87-9, Lindum Academy 88-0;

Claypole 118, Grantham 2^nd 119-4 (Imber 60no);

Spalding 3^rd 28, Boston 3^rd 29-2;

Pinchbeck 183-7 (Smith 73, Riley 50), Burgh & District 125;