MAY 17 READERS LINCOLNSHIRE ECB PREMIER CRICKET LEAGUE

BY ANN BOULTON

Just six points separate the top four in the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League after Woodhall Spa beat former leaders Bracebridge Heath off the last ball of the game to take over second place.

Bourne top the table following their win over Skegness with Sleaford, who beat Spalding, in third and Bracebridge fourth.

Tim McIntosh hit the day’s only century with an unbeaten 123 for Sleaford and Louth’s Amila Wettasinghe was the pick of the bowlers with six for 28 in his side’s victory over Market Deeping.

Lower down the table, Grimsby celebrated their first win of the season, beating Billingborough by three wickets and moving four points above their opponents.

And bottom side Market Rasen fought out a draw with Lindum to stay in touch with the teams above them.

Pete Morgan hit 70 in Bourne’s nine wicket victory over Skegness and Sleaford claimed a 10 wicket win over Spalding.

But at Jubilee Park it was a much tighter game as the home side chased Bracebridge’s score of 220 for eight, Paul Cook hitting 65, Brett Houston 51 and Malinga Bandara taking four wickets for Woodhall.

With 10 overs to go, Woodhall still needed 50 runs but had only lost two wickets.  The next five overs brought 26 runs and one wicket but two more fell in the 48^th over with the score on 209.

With 219 on the board, the third ball of the final over brought another wicket, the fourth was a dot ball and Jack Luffman hit the fifth for a single to tie the scores.  This put Tom Dixon on strike to face his first ball – and the 19 year old made no mistake, hitting a four to win the match.

Sam Evison topped the Woodhall Spa batting with 80 while for Bracebridge

South African Craig Schlesbusch had a good day with 37 runs, two run outs and three catches.

Grimsby’s victory came after Billingborough were bowled out for 152 of which Dave Newman hit 53.  Maninder Singh was the mainstay of the Grimsby innings, hitting an unbeaten 71 to take his side to a three wicket win.

Lindum got off to a good start at home to Market Rasen, Geoff Middleton and Richard Bishop sharing an opening stand of 52.  But after Tom Boryszczuk dismissed Middleton the run rate slowed and four wickets for Matt Rutherford helped restrict Lindum to 165 for nine. 

The two bowlers then got together again with the score on 54 for three to add 52 and Graeme Bell and Paul Martin shared a stand of 40 that took Rasen to the close on 146 for seven, Ryan Sneddon taking four wickets for Lindum.

Louth notched up the highest score of the day of 275 for seven, Laurence Scott with 75 and Graham West 62.  Amila Wettasinghe then took over to claim six wickets as Market Deeping were all out for 158.

At Sleaford, Spalding were put in to bat and quickly found themselves 34 for three.  The middle order dug in but three wickets for Tim McIntosh brought the innings to a close on 177.  McIntosh then hit 123 off 98 balls with 17 fours and three sixes and, ably assisted by 17 year old Louis Kimber with 54, took Sleaford victory.

Results

Spalding 177, Sleaford 183-0 (McIntosh 123no, Kimber 54no);

Skegness 133, Bourne 137-1 (Morgan 70);

Louth 275-7 (Scott 75, G West 62). Market Deeping 158 (Wettasinghe 6-48);

Billingborough 152 (Newman 53), Grimsby 154-7 (Singh 71no);

Lindum 165-9 (Middleton 52), Market Rasen 146-7;

Bracebridge Heath 220-8 (Cook 65, Houston 51), Woodhall Spa 224-7 (Evison 80)

	P	W	L	Draw	NR	Bat	Bowl	Win	Total
Bourne	5	2	0	2	1	20	17	20	78
Woodhall Spa	5	2	0	2	1	18	15	20	74
Sleaford	5	2	0	3	0	19	21	20	73
Bracebridge Heath	5	3	2	0	0	19	23	30	72
Louth	5	2	0	2	1	13	17	20	67
Spalding	5	1	1	3	0	20	14	10	59
Market Deeping	5	2	1	1	1	14	15	20	57
Lindum	5	1	2	1	1	10	16	10	48
Grimsby	5	1	2	1	1	9	13	10	38
Billingborough	5	0	2	2	1	10	15	0	34
Skegness	5	0	4	0	1	6	9	0	20
Market Rasen	5	0	2	1	2	2	4	0	19