SOUTH LINCS AND BORDER CRICKET LEAGUE - AUGUST 31 MATCHES

BY ANN BOULTON

Billingborough need just 18 points from their last three games to clinch the South Lincolnshire & Border League championship after beating Sleaford 2^nd while rivals Boston were going down in a close game against Lindum Ramblers.

Sleaford made 149 for nine, a total the leaders reached for the loss of seven wickets but Boston were all out 17 runs short of Ramblers’ 209 for nine.

Bourne 2^nd moved into second place following their victory over Moulton Harrox for whom Matthew Barnett took six wickets and hit an unbeaten 82 runs and Stamford Town are also in the mix, lying fourth just six points behind Boston.

Zac Chappell took six wickets for Stamford in their victory over Skegness 2^nd, a result that allowed Grantham to move above the seasiders into fifth after a good performance against Woodhall Spa 2^nd brought an eight wicket victory.

In Division One, Long Sutton lead Stamford Town 2^nd by 36 points, both teams with three games remaining.  Baston are third but have only two games to play, one of them against the leaders.

Long Sutton beat Boston 2^nd by eight wickets while Stamford hit the division’s highest total with 212 for three before bowling Billingborough 2^nd out for 130 but Baston went down to Spalding 2^nd. 

Lower down the table, Blankney picked up welcome points with a victory over Friskney, Ash Jarvis taking five wickets and Heckington moved further away from the relegation zone with victory over Moulton Harrox Sunday.

Long Sutton 2^nd and Cavaliers opened up a gap at the top of Division Two with victories over Spalding 3^rd and Timberland respectively. 

Lindum 3^rd stayed third after declaring on 304 for three, of which John Gratrick hit 135, the day’s only century.  Claypole beat Welby to stay fourth, just five behind Lindum who have a game in hand and Burgh & District’s good season continued with a win over Boston 3^rd.

Rob Simpson has taken 63 wickets for Long Sutton 2^nd so far this season while James Wright has taken his 50^th for the 1^st XI.

Premier Division

Belton Park 242-5 (Moore 84, Cocks 54, Law 53), Welby 122;

Skegness 136 (Chappell 6-35), Stamford Town 137-7;

Woodhall Spa 2^nd 165 (Bee 50, Stevenson 5-24), Grantham 168-2 (S Mudie 77no, Parmley 74);

Bourne 2^nd 205 (Keywood 52, M Barnett 6-40), Moulton Harrox 166-9 (M Barnett 82no);

Lindum Ramblers 209-9, Boston 192 (Baxter 89no);

Sleaford 2^nd 149-9 (Wilson 52), Billingborough 152-7;

Moulton Harrox Sunday 118, Heckington 119-2 (Morley 53);

Division One

Blankney 142, Friskney 85 (Jarvis 5-37);

Stamford Town 2^nd 212-3 (Morley 53, Williams 54), Billingborough 2^nd 130;

Boston 2^nd 135 (Moses 69), Long Sutton 136-2 (Barnes 54);

Baston 147-9 (Hartley 62), Spalding 148-5 (Juckes 62);

Thomas Cook 161-7 (Shah 68), Market Deeping 2^nd 99;

Division Two

Pinchbeck 94, Freiston 95-1;

Boston 3^rd 75, Burgh & District 77-2;

Welby 2^nd 131, Claypole 133-5 (Ragless 72)

Lindum 304-3 dec (Gratrick 135), Grantham 2^nd 61;

Spalding 3^rd 116 (Stuart 51), Long Sutton 2^nd 117-3;

Timberland 136-9 (Tonge 50no), Cavaliers 137-5;