LINCOLNSHIRE ECB PREMIER CRICKET LEAGUE JUNE 14 ROUND-UP

BY ANN BOULTON

Bourne clung on to top place in the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League after a high scoring game at Abbey Lawn which saw them come away with eight points.

More than 550 runs were scored in the game against Bracebridge Heath with Brett Houston the day’s only century maker.

Houston was unbeaten on 105, Paul Cook made 86 and Craig Schlebush an unbeaten 60 as Bracebridge racked up 308 for two.  But Pete Morgan hit back with 68 while Carl Wilson and Jack Berry were both not out on 69 and 55 respectively as Bourne replied with 250 for six.

A short distance away at Billingborough it was a much closer affair as the home side battled for their first Premier League win.  Angus Youles took five for 25 to help restrict Market Deeping to 187 for nine but despite the batsmen’s efforts, the final wicket fell 15 short of the target on 172.

This win took Deeping to second place on equal points with Louth who are rapidly gaining a reputation as the team to watch.  Amila Wethasinghe put in a man of the match performance at Sleaford, taking five wickets as the home side were all out for 158, Tim McIntosh hitting 59.  The Sri Lankan then made 66 as Louth claimed a five wicket victory to go five points ahead of their opponents.

At the bottom of the table, Skegness moved up to ninth following their victory over Grimsby who slipped into the relegation zone after being bowled out for 127 at Richmond Road.

Scott Tallott then carried his bat, making an unbeaten 78 to take the seasiders to an eight wicket win.

Bottom side Market Rasen stayed in close touch with the teams above them after collecting nine points away at Spalding for whom Thivanka Rajaratne made 82 and Warren Nel 72.

The home side finished on 237 for eight but were unable to take the last wicket that would have given them 20 as Rasen hung on to make 181 for nine.

At Woodhall Spa, Lindum’s Luke Robinson came close to making the second century of the day, getting out on 97 as the visitors were bowled out for 216, Malinga Bandara taking six wickets.    

Jake Benson and Tom Lindsay then combined to reduce Woodhall to 23 for four and the innings never recovered despite a knock of 45 from Matt Sergeant as the overs ended on 154 for eight.

Results

Grimsby 127, Skegness 128-2 (Tallott 78no);

Bracebridge Heath 308-2 (Cook 86. Houston 105no, Schlebush 60no), Bourne 250-6 (Morgan 68, Wilson 69no, Berry 55no);

Market Deeping 187-9 (Youles 5-25); Billingborough 172;

Lindum 216 (Robinson 97, Bandara 6-51), Woodhall Spa 154-8;

Sleaford 158 (McIntosh 59, Wethasinghe 5-44), Louth 159-6 (Wethasinghe 66);

Spalding 237-8 (Rajaratne 82, Nel 72), Market Rasen 181-9.

	P	W	L	Draw	NR	Bat	Bowl	Win	Total
Bourne	9	3	0	4	2	29	23	30	120
Market Deeping	9	5	1	1	2	19	30	50	112
Louth	9	4	0	2	3	18	27	40	112
Sleaford	9	3	1	3	2	26	28	30	107
Bracebridge Heath	9	3	3	1	2	25	29	30	101
Woodhall Spa	9	2	1	3	3	21	24	20	97
Lindum	9	2	3	2	2	19	28	20	93
Spalding	9	1	2	4	2	27	19	10	88
Skegness	9	2	4	0	3	13	17	20	65
Billingborough	9	0	4	2	3	12	24	0	55
Grimsby	9	1	5	1	2	13	16	10	50
Market Rasen	9	0	2	3	4	6	11	0	44