READERS LINCS ECB PREMIER PREVIEW OF GAMES ON SATURDAY JUNE 22

BY ANN BOULTON

Only 20 points separate first and seventh placed teams in the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League as sides vie for the top of the table.

Second placed Bracebridge Heath entertain Lindum who are seventh, while leaders Woodhall Spa travel to Spalding.

With a full strength team now in place, Lindum’s fortunes have improved in recent weeks but Bracebridge have also made steady progress up the table - thanks in part to Nick John who currently tops with runs table and Matt Bradley has taken 25 wickets - and this is likely to be a hard-fought game.

Spalding suffered a blow with the departure of Zimbabwean Campbell Light, called home for family reasons, but with Warren Nel returning to form, the newcomers will not give Woodhall an easy ride.

Hovering in the wings in third place, just one point behind Bracebridge, are Grimsby who have a home game against Bourne.  Pete Morgan’s Abbey Lawn team find themselves in an unexpected 10^th position in the table and will be desperate for points to take them away from the danger zone but Grimsby’s young team are enjoying an excellent season so far and will be going all out to regain top place.

Bourne have a slender four point advantage over 11^th placed Haxey who entertain Louth who have slipped to ninth but are still in touch with the top half of the table, just nine behind Lindum.

Azeem Ghumann has proved a good signing for Louth, hitting 327 runs so far but Graeme Attenborough is also performing well for Haxey, notching up 298 while Josh Savage has taken 18 wickets.

Bottom side Hartsholme travel to Market Deeping, who are fourth but the tightest game is like to be between the fifth and sixth placed sides as Sleaford make the journey to Skegness.

Fixtures (12.30 start)

Bracebridge Heath v Lindum

Grimsby v Bourne

Haxey v Louth

Market Deeping v Hartsholme                 

Skegness v Sleaford

Spalding v Woodhall Spa