EXCITING TIE

By Ann Boulton

Skegness consolidated their lead in the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League, recording the day’s highest individual and team totals.
But top the table remains just as tight with only six per cent separating the top five teams after Bourne took 20 points at home to Sleaford, Bracebridge Heath halted their run of defeats with 20 at Lindum, and Grimsby tied at Louth.
Skegness took advantage of a batsman’s paradise at Market Deeping to amass 346 for three, Roald Badenhorst making 162 and Carl Wilson an unbeaten 113. But Market Deeping failed to capitalise on the good track and were bowled out for 160, David Gillett with 60 not out and Saeed Bariwala taking five wickets for the seasiders.
Bourne lost four wickets chasing Sleaford’s modest total of 154 while in an eventful game at Lindum, which saw Bracebridge Heath lose two wickets in the first over, Andrew Crook hit 64 and 18-year-old George Neal 74 not out to help the final total to 267 for seven.
Josh Brodie with 68 and Pierce Morley-Barnes with 67 then put on 151 in Lindum’s opening partnership. But from here Matt Bradley took four wickets, Aaron Onyon three and a Brett Houston ended the innings on 214 with a hat trick, wicketkeeper Jason Scheepers claiming two catches and four stumpings.
This lifted the champions to third place, just ahead of Nettleham who picked up 16 at home to Hartsholme. The visitors made 212 for six, Nathan Poundall top scoring with 91. Warren Nel then passed the 600 run mark for the season with an unbeaten 141 to take his side to an eight wicket victory.
Behind Nettleham, Grimsby slipped to fifth after a tie at Louth which saw both sides end on 114 all out and Market Deeping stay sixth but now have a gap opening up above them.
It was all change at the bottom of the table as Boston picked up 20 points at Woodhall to consign their opponents to last place. Dan Milgate claimed seven wickets as Woodhall were all out for 193, Sam Evison making 59 and 18 year old Jonathan Cheer then took his runs tally past the 500 mark with an unbeaten 125 as Woodhall went down to a three wicket defeat.
This win lifted Boston to eighth place with Louth in ninth and Hartsholme 10th but, as with the top of the table, the competition stays tight with only five per cent separating these four.

RESULTS
Sleaford 154, Bourne 157-6; Skegness 346-3 (Badenhorst 162, Wilson 113no), Market Deeping 160 (Gillett 60no, Bariwala 5-55); Hartsholme 212-6 (Poundall 91), Nettleham 213-2 (Nel 141no); Woodhall Spa 193 (Evison 59, Milgate 7-66), Boston 195-7 (J Cheer 125no); Louth 114, Grimsby 114; Bracebridge Heath 267-7 (Crook 64, Neal 74), Lindum 214 (Brodie 68, Morley-Barnes 67).

STANDINGS
Team P W L Draw/Tie NR Bat Bowl Win Draw Total %
Skegness 11 7 2 0 2 32 35 70 0 137 76%
Bourne 11 6 3 0 2 35 38 60 0 133 74%
Bracebridge Heath 11 6 3 0 2 31 40 60 0 131 73%
Nettleham 11 5 2 2 2 38 31 50 10 129 72%
Grimsby 11 3 2 5 1 39 38 30 33 140 70%
Market Deeping 11 4 3 2 2 28 26 40 12 106 59%
Sleaford 11 4 5 0 2 28 32 40 0 100 56%
Lindum 11 4 5 1 1 31 33 40 5 109 55%
Boston 11 3 6 0 2 23 29 30 0 82 46%
Louth 11 2 5 2 2 24 27 20 10 81 45%
Hartsholme 11 1 5 3 2 27 31 10 7 75 42%
Woodhall Spa 11 1 5 3 2 29 21 10 13 73 41%