FIRST DEFEAT FOR CHAMPS

By Ann Boulton

A week is a long time in cricket as Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League leaders Bracebridge Heath found out to their cost as, from breaking records one weekend, the champions fell to their first defeat of the season the next.
And it was lowly Louth who only hauled themselves off the bottom of the table last weekend who inflicted that defeat to cause the upset of the day.
Batting first at Cross O’Cliff Court, Louth reached 212 for nine, thanks in part of an innings of 83 from Graham West. Chasing this seemingly modest total, Bracebridge found themselves five for two as last weekend’s record breakers Mark Fell and Andrew Crook were both out in the first three overs.
Jason Scheepers appeared to be rescuing the innings but when he went for 64, Bracebridge fell to 179 all out, Seth Rance taking five for 38 for Louth.
This moved Louth up another two places to eighth while at the top of the table, second placed Grimsby closed the gap with a 20 pointer at Sleaford, bowling the home side out for 145 before going on to win by seven wickets, new signing John Maddock making his first half century for the club.
This sent Sleaford plummeting down the table once again, going from third to seventh with Skegness taking their place in third after an equally low scoring game against Lindum who were all out for 144, a total the seasiders overtook for the loss off four wickets.
At the Mayflower Ground, Boston were bowled out for 140, Fahad Masood adding another five wickets to his tally. Bourne then cruised to a six wicket win which took them into the top half of the table for the first time this season, leaving Boston in 10th.
The closest game of the day was at Jubilee Park where fourth placed Nettleham set bottom team Woodhall Spa a total of 214 for seven, only to see their opponents come with six runs of their target, finishing on 206 for eight to pick up a valuable 10 points.
This moved Woodhall closer to 11th placed Hartsholme who also hung on for a draw. Having bowled Market Deeping out for 225, Hartsholme were in trouble at 101 for six but at the close had reached 156 for eight, giving them eight points.

RESULTS
Lindum 144 (Brodie 50), Skegness 145-4 (Houghton 55);
Boston 140 (Masood 5-37), Bourne 143-4 (Morgan 59no);
Sleaford 145 (Gunawardena 69), Grimsby 148-3 (Maddock 57);
Market Deeping 225 (Peacock 53), Hartsholme 156-8 (Davis 52);
Louth 212-9 (G West 83), Bracebridge Heath 179 (Scheepers 64, Rance 5-38);
Nettleham 214-7 (Manby 52), Woodhall Spa 206-8 (Evison 66, P Cook 5-43);

HOW THEY STAND

Team P W L Draw/Tie NR Bat Bowl Win Draw Total Per cent
Bracebridge Heath 8 5 1 0 2 25 29 50 0 104 87%
Grimsby 8 3 1 3 1 30 27 30 21 108 77%
Skegness 8 4 2 0 2 18 22 40 0 80 67%
Nettleham 8 2 2 2 2 27 19 20 10 76 63%
Market Deeping 8 3 2 1 2 17 17 30 9 73 61%
Bourne 8 3 3 0 2 20 23 30 0 73 61%
Sleaford 8 3 3 0 2 19 23 30 0 72 60%
Louth 8 2 3 1 2 21 20 20 5 66 55%
Lindum 8 3 3 1 1 18 23 30 5 76 54%
Boston 8 2 4 0 2 13 21 20 0 54 45%
Hartsholme 8 0 3 3 2 16 23 0 7 46 38%
Woodhall Spa 8 0 3 3 2 18 12 0 13 43 36%