GAP CLOSES

By Ann Boulton

Bracebridge Heath closed the gap very slightly on Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League leaders Bourne, picking up 20 points to their rivals 16 after both had bowled their opposition out cheaply.
At Abbey Lawn, Bourne were all out for 142, Conrad Louth hitting 64 and Dan Milgate taking five for 44 for Boston. But Fahad Masood proved too accurate for the visiting batsmen, taking five for 41 as Boston could only reach 90 before the final wicket fell.
At London Road, Louth batted first but met Matt Bradley in good form, the Bracebridge bowler taking six for 14 as the home side were all out for 88, a total the visitors knocked off for the loss of four wickets.
Sleaford are now breathing down Bracebridge’s neck, having hit the highest total of the day at Augusta Street as they overcame Grimsby to move into third while their opponents slipped won to seventh behind Market Deeping whose game against Hartsholme was rained off without a ball being bowled.
Sleaford’s Dammika Gunawardena was the day’s only centurion, hitting an unbeaten 138 in his side’s 275 for five.
In an unexpected result at Richmond Road, Skegness went down heavily to Lindum who are back in the top six after hitting 206 for eight then demolishing the seasiders for just 75.
And Fawad Alam, playing his last game for Woodhall Spa before joining the Pakistan one-day squad, went out on a high note with 63 runs of his side’s total of 169 for eight before taking six for 30 to help bowl Nettleham out for 108, leaving them in fifth place and only a fraction ahead of Lindum.

Results
Bourne 142 (Louth 64, Milgate 5-44), Boston 90 (Masood 5-41);
Sleaford 275-5 (Gunawardena 138no, Miles 63no), Grimsby 197;
Lindum 206-8 (Hornsby 88), Skegness 75;
Woodhall Spa 169-8 (Alam 63), Nettleham 108 (Alam 6-30);
Louth 88 (Bradley 6-14), Bracebridge Heath 90-4;
Market Deeping v Hartsholme – abandoned, no play


Team P W L Draw/Tie NR Bat Bowl Win Draw Total Percent
Bourne 19 10 4 1 4 59 65 100 9 233 77.67%
Bracebridge Heath 19 9 5 0 5 50 58 90 0 198 70.71%
Sleaford 19 9 5 1 4 52 61 90 1 204 68.00%
Skegness 19 10 6 0 3 46 59 100 0 205 64.06%
Nettleham 19 6 5 4 4 52 47 60 26 185 61.67%
Lindum 19 7 7 2 3 55 57 70 14 196 61.25%
Market Deeping 19 6 5 3 5 46 42 60 15 163 58.21%
Grimsby 19 3 6 7 3 60 54 30 41 185 57.81%
Woodhall Spa 19 5 7 3 4 49 41 50 13 153 51.00%
Louth 19 5 7 3 4 39 51 50 11 151 50.33%

Boston 19 4 10 1 4 31 53 40 3 127 42.33%
Hartsholme 19 2 9 3 5 39 45 20 7 111 39.64%