SOUTH LINCS AND BORDER CRICKET ROUND-UP

May 25 - FROM ANN BOULTON

Billingborough moved into pole position in the South Lincolnshire & Border League Premier Division following a 20 point victory over Belton Park while Boston are just three points behind in second after beating Grantham.

Kieran Evans added another 53 to take his runs tally for Boston over the 300 mark.

Stamford Town’s three wicket win over Bourne 2^nd keeps them ahead of their opponents in third but the top two both have a game in hand on the two teams below them.

Moulton Harrox won their game against Welby, leaving both sides locked on equal points in bottom place with Belton Park one above them.

Bourne’s Tom Dixon made the division’s highest score with 72 while Rutvik Botadra took five wickets for Billingborough to give him 20 wickets so far this season.

But it was Division Two that brought the closest game of the day.  Having bowled Market Deeping 2^nd out for a modest 96, Friskney reached 51 for three then quickly found themselves 61 for seven. 

When the ninth wicket fell, just nine runs were needed for victory but with the total on 95, Jackson Andrews took his third wicket to give Deeping the slenderest of victories, Nick Andrews claiming five wickets. 

Elsewhere, Long Sutton extended their lead at the top to 21 points after beating Billingborough 2^nd by eight wickets, with Baston staying second despite going down to Boston 2^nd.  Stamford Town 2^nd lie third, just two points behind Baston for whom Jon Howard has notched up 200 runs and John Lamin has taken 20 wickets.

Long Sutton 2^nd and Claypole have both topped 100 points in Division Two with the former team 11 ahead of their rivals.  Claypole were involved in the division’s tightest game, falling nine runs short of Cavaliers’ meagre total of 78 while Long Sutton 2^nd were without a game.

Grantham 2^nd also scraped home, beating Boston 3^rd by just one wicket as they chased their opponents 170 for seven.

The day’s only century came from Sam Smith who hit an unbeaten 108 for Pinchbeck against Timberland for whom Eric Askin took five wickets.  James Langford and Andrew Beeston then took five each to take Pinchbeck to victory.

Premier Division

Billingborough 205-8, Belton Park 113 (Botadra 5-32);

Boston 174-9 (Evans 53), Grantham 80;

Skegness 2^nd 157-7, Lindum Ramblers 93;

Woodhall Spa 2^nd 109-5 (Dixon 54no), Sleaford 2^nd 98;

Bourne 2^nd 184-7 (T Dixon 72), Stamford Town 188-7;

Welby 59, Moulton Harrox 60-2;

Division One

Market Deeping 2^nd 96, Friskney 95 (N Andrews 5-29);

Blankney 59, Spalding 2^nd 62-5 (N Gilbert 5-19);

Billingborough 2^nd 170-8 (Brown 65), Long Sutton 171-2 (Barnes 62);

Baston 82, Boston 2^nd 83-7;

Heckington 78, Stamford Town 2^nd 79-1 (Lynas 50);

Thomas Cook 136, Moulton Harrox Sunday 125 (Morton 51);

Division Two

Spalding 3^rd 90-9, Burgh & District 93-7 (Sharp 52no);

Boston 3^rd 170-7, Grantham 2^nd 171-9;

Pinchbeck 228-6 (Smith 108no, Askin 5-49), Timberland 43 (Langford 5-24, Beeston 5-17);

Cavaliers 78, Claypole 69;

Long Sutton 2^nd v Welby 2^nd – Welby conceded