EXCELLENT WIN FOR GRIMSBY TOWN

By Ann Boulton

Bracebridge Heath moved to the top of the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League table after former leaders Lindum went down heavily to Grimsby.
Playing at Cross O’Cliff Court, Bracebridge bowled Boston out for 119 and went on to win by six wickets and take the maximum 20 points. Meanwhile, across the city at St Giles Avenue, Grimsby were inflicting a similar defeat on Lindum who were all out for 105, their batsmen unable to handle the spin of George Linde as the South African took seven for 21 off just 32 balls, including a hat-trick.
In hot pursuit of the new leaders are Market Deeping who once again chased down a sizeable score and lie just three points behind Bracebridge. Having suffered the loss of Oliver Burford, in hospital with appendicitis, Stephen Bradford took over the Sleaford captaincy and saw his side make a challenging 233, Matthew Mountain hitting 85. But Deeping made short work of this total to win by six wickets, Tom Andrews and David Gillett unbeaten on 80 and 74 respectively.
Nettleham also regained their batting form to pick up valuable points at home to Skegness who took advantage of a batsman-friendly track to make a massive 346 for five, Peter Houghton with 147 – the day’s only century – and Carl Wilson unbeaten on 55.
In reply, Nettleham reached 238 for five off their 50 overs, Dan Wright with 92 and David Manby hitting 67 not out.
Scores were lower at Louth, but London Road was the scene of the day’s tightest game as Fahad Masood took another five wickets to help bowl the home side out for 163 in 40 overs. This gave Bourne 60 overs to knock off the runs but in the face of some tight bowling the league champions made hard work of their task, losing eight wickets and taking their innings into the 51st over before finally claiming a victory which moved them up to third place, Conrad Louth hitting 50.
At Ashby Avenue, Hartsholme came out on the right side of a draw with Woodhall Spa. Hartsholme finished on 203 for eight, Henry Rush with 52, before restricting their visitors to 179 for eight.

SCORES
Boston 119, Bracebridge Heath 120-4 (John 56);
Hartsholme 203-8 (Rush 52), Woodhall Spa 179-8;
Lindum 105 (Linde 7-21), Grimsby 106-4;
Louth 163 (Masood 5-50), Bourne 164-8 (Louth 50);
Sleaford 233 (Mountain 85), Market Deeping 237-4 (Andrews 80no, Gillett 74no);
Skegness 346-5 (Houghton 147, Wilson 55no), Nettleham 238-5 (Wright 92, Manby 67no).

HOW THEY STAND
Team P W L Draw Ab/Can Bat Bowl Win Draw Ab/Can Total
Bracebridge Heath 4 3 0 0 1 20 19 30 0 5 74
Market Deeping 4 3 0 1 0 20 18 30 3 0 71
Bourne 4 3 1 0 0 15 17 30 0 0 62
Lindum 4 2 1 1 0 15 14 20 9 0 58
Grimsby 4 2 1 1 0 19 10 20 7 0 56
Louth 4 1 1 2 0 15 14 10 12 0 51
Boston 4 1 2 1 0 13 13 10 7 0 43
Woodhall Spa 4 1 1 2 0 14 11 10 4 0 39
Skegness 4 0 2 1 1 14 8 0 9 5 36
Hartsholme 4 0 2 1 1 12 10 0 7 5 34
Nettleham 4 0 1 2 1 8 10 0 2 5 25
Sleaford 4 0 4 0 0 12 6 0 0 0 18