SOUTH LINCS & BORDER UPDATE FROM ANN BOULTON

Boston’s quest for an immediate return to ECB Premier League cricket got off to a good start with a nine wicket win over Woodhall Spa 2^nd who were bowled out for 99, Tom Baxter claiming four victims.  Rowan Evans then hit an unbeaten 62 to take Boston to victory.

Last year’s title challengers Billingborough also triumphed with an emphatic victory over Stamford Town.  Dave Newman made 65 of the village side’s 207 for five before Roy Tilley’s eight overs brought him five wickets for 12 runs as Stamford were all out for 84.

Newly promoted Welby got a win under their belts, beating Sleaford 2^nd by 64 runs while Daniel Turner’s 59 put Belton Park on track for a 93 run win over Grantham for whom Neil Stevenson took six for 39.  And Skegness 2^nd scored a 100 run win over Moulton Harrox, Aiistair Ainsworth making 79 for the seasiders.

Archie Stroud put in another good performance for Bourne 2^nd, taking five Lindum Ramblers wickets for 29 runs to help his side to a six wicket win, Tom Bentley hitting 54 for Bourne.

In Division One, John Lamin took five for eight in 6.3 overs to help Baston to a 27 run win over Market Deeping 2^nd while Long Sutton went on to claim a nine-wicket win over Friskney after Phil Edgeller has taken four for seven off seven overs.

Boston 2^nd couldn’t emulate their first team, going down to Stamford Town 2^nd by 78 runs but Simon Behan’s 56 helped Blankney to victory over Thomas Cook.

The tightest game of the day was in Division Two where Long Sutton 2^nd had just one wicket standing when they scored the winning run at home to Timberland who had been bowled out for 108.

Elsewhere, Cavaliers set Welby 2^nd a target of 205 for nine, Jamie Hayes hitting 68 and Andrew Spencer taking five for 39 for the visitors. Paul Ingram then claimed six for 23 as Welby were all out for 62. 

Grantham 2^nd went down to Freiston by 10 wickets, Goodfellow taking five for 29, while a higher scoring game at Spalding saw Burgh & District make 171 for nine, a target Pinchbeck reached for the loss of five wickets, Danny Jackson with 72.

And Claypole continued their good start, bowling Spalding 3^rd out for 110. Having then been reduced to 48 for six, Ben Ryder and Luke Endley came to the rescue with an unbeaten stand to take Claypole to victory.

Premier Division

Woodhall Spa 2^nd 99, Boston 101-1 (Evans 62no);

Welby 176, Sleaford 2^nd 112-9;

Belton Park 194 (D Turner 59, Stevenson 6-39), Grantham 101;

Billingborough 207-5 (Newman 65), Stamford Town 84 (Tilley 5-12)

Lindum Ramblers 159 (A Stroud 5-29), Bourne 2^nd 161-4 (Bentley 54);

Skegness 2^nd 219-4 (Ainsworth 79), Moulton Harrox 119

Division One

Thomas Cook 133-7, Blankney 135-4 (Behan 56no);

Baston 128, Market Deeping 2^nd 101 (Lamin 5-8);

Friskney 47, Long Sutton 51-1;

Stamford Town 2^nd 184-8, Boston 2^nd 106;

Division Two

Cavaliers 205-9 (Hayes 68, Spencer 5-39), Welby 2^nd 62 (Ingram 6-23);

Burgh & District 171-9, Pinchbeck 172-5 (Jackson 72);

Grantham 2^nd 89 (Goodfellow 5-29), Freiston 92-0;

Spalding 3^rd 110, Claypole 112-6;

Timberland 108, Long Sutton 2^nd 109-9;