FOUR OFF LAST BALL WINS GAME

From Ann Boulton

The top three in South Lincolnshire & Border League Division One all came away with victories to leave positions unchanged.
Leaders Billingborough scored a convincing win over Grantham while second placed Stamford Town got the better of fourth placed Spalding but dropped a point on the leaders.
Third placed Belton Park were involved in the tightest game at home to bottom side Bourne 2nd for whom Tom Bentley hit his maiden century to help his side to 202 for four. Belton were then taken right to the wire with Andy Sheardown hitting the winning four off the last ball of the match.
However, Bourne picked up enough points to increase their chances of avoiding relegation and are now jjust nine behind Boston 2nd – who went down to Moulton Harrox – with a game in hand.
Skegness and Cavaliers continued their battle at the top of Division Two with Cavaliers picking up 20 points against Heckington while the leaders failed by just two runs to catch Thomas Cook’s score of 170 for 7, of which Vidit Matta hit division two’s only century.
Cavaliers are now 25 behind Skegness, both on equal games, while Stamford 2nd, who beat Billingborough 2nd, are seven behind Cavaliers with a game in hand. And Welby have pulled up to fourth, 10 behind Stamford.
It was all change in Division Three where North Luffenham slipped to fourth after going down by four wickets to Spalding 3rd for whom two batsmen – Stuart Parker and Kevin Nottingham – made maiden 50s.
This moved Spalding up to second, 16 behind leaders Moulton Harrox Sunday, but Baston, with two games in hand, are only 20 points adrift of the top team following an eight wicket victory over Claypole.
Blankney also kept up their challenge, winning a much higher scoring game against Timberland while Grantham 2nd successfully chased Pinchbeck’s 208 for six to win by three wickets.

Division One
Grantham 91, Billingborough 93-1 (G Scott 57);
Moulton Harrox 197-6, Boston 2nd 117;
Market Deeping 2nd 119 (Bee 5-45), Woodhall Spa 2nd 120-7;
Sleaford 2nd 187-8 (Gascoyne 62) Lindum Ramblers 125;
Stamford Town 188-8 (Williams 72), Spalding 128;
Bourne 2nd 202-4 (T Bentley 100no, Knowles 51), Belton Park 204-8 (Turner 54).

Division Two
Ropsley 113-7, Welby 116-5;
Stamford 2nd 210-9 (Williams 81), Billingborough 2nd 118-9;
Thomas Cook 170-7 (Matta 101), Skegness 168-9 (M Santini 57);
Heckington 66, Cavaliers 67-0;
Spalding 2nd 117, Sleaford Sunday 55 (Hendry 5-17);

Division Three
North Luffenham 168 (Hodson 56), Spalding 3rd 170-6 (Parker 62, K Nottingham 52);
Claypole 136, Baston 137-2 (Howard 59);
Blankney 250-8 (C Donald 53), Timberland 193-6 (Wright 50);
Pinchbeck 208-6 (Riley 59, Brown 94), Grantham 2nd 210-7 (Donnellan 61);
Moulton Harrox Sunday 205-6 (Broomfield 87), Burgh & District 109;