WINKWORTH CUP DRAMA

By Ann Boulton

Having picked up 24 points from their first two league games following their promotion to the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League, Boston’s season got even better when they won through to the finals of the Winkworth Cup.
Played in 20/20 format, the first round of the cup brings together three teams at each of four venues. Boston hosted one group and after Bourne and Boston had both beaten Louth, the two met for a place in the finals, Jonathan Cheer scoring 74 off 40 balls, the host club won through by five wickets.
At St Giles Avenue, Woodhall Spa were first to go after losing to Bracebridge Heath and Lindum. These two then met in the third match which Bracebridge won easily after Andrew Coork had hit an unbeaten ton.
Market Deeping hit the highest total of the day, making 232 for two off their 20 overs against Hartsholme, who had earlier lost out to hosts Nettleham despite a knock of 80 from Tim Shooter. David Gillett also hit the top individual total with an unbeaten 105 but in the final match, Nettleham’s 191 for five proved too high a target for Deeping who could only manage 152 for nine.
Skegness were the victors at Sleaford, overcoming the host club by three wickets with Saeed Bariwala hitting 55. Richard Antcliffe then made 71 not out as Grimsby also beat Sleaford, this time by nine wickets, to set up an exciting third match against the seasiders.
Batting first, Grimsby rattled up 168 for five, Antcliffe again among the runs with 64 and Steve Crossley – who made 40 in the first match – hitting 51. Skegness then lost a wicket in each of the first two overs for just nine runs but quickly got back into batting mode, Carl Wilson and Peter Houghton adding 44 before skipper Tony Santini joined Wilson on an unbeaten 117 run spree that saw his side into the final, Wilson with 69 off 47 balls and Santini with 66 off 41.
The semi-finals and final take place at Sleaford Cricket Club on Monday 31 May. Matches are 10.30am, 1.30pm and 4.30pm.

Venue: Boston CC
Bourne 95-9, Louth 91-8;
Louth 133-6, Boston 134-4 (Newton 66no)
Bourne 174-6, Boston 177-5 (J Cheer 74);
Finalist: Boston

Venue: Lindum CC
Woodhall Spa 92-6, Bracebridge Heath 95-4;
Woodhall Spa 131-8, Lindum 132-8
Bracebridge Heath 214-2 (Crook 100no), Lindum 62-9;
Finalist: Bracebridge Heath

Venue: Nettleham CC
Hartsholme 152-6 (Shooter 80), Nettleham 155-5;
Market Deeping 232-2 (Gillett 105no), Hartsholme 90-9;
Nettleham 191-5, Market Deeping 152-9;
Finalist: Nettleham

Venue: Sleaford CC
Match 1: Sleaford 132-9, Skegness 133-7 (Bariwala 55);
Match 2: Sleaford 122-8, Grimsby 127-1 (Antcliffe 71no);
Match 3: Grimsby 168-5 (Antcliffe 64, Crossley 51), Skegness 170-3 Wilson 63no, Santini 72no
Finalist: Skegness

Pictured: Carl Wilson, of Skegness, who hit an unbeaten 69 off 47 balls to help his side to a place in the semi-finals.