PREMIER LEADERS BEATEN

By Ann Boulton

It was all change yet again in the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League table as, despite the rain, only one game had to be abandoned.
Just six points now separate the fourth and eighth placed teams after what proved to be a good day for teams lower down the table with three of the bottom six winning.
Lowly Woodhall Spa belied their 11th place by beating leaders Bracebridge Heath while at Lindum, Luke Robinson hit an unbeaten 117 and Stuart Turner took seven wickets to help overcome second placed Boston. Lindum reached 239 for five before bowling their guests out for a meagre 63.
This allowed Bourne to move up to second after Peter Morgan had hit the day’s second century, making 110 not out at Skegness whose batsmen then succumbed to the bowling of Charlie Hopkins who took six wickets. Conrad Louth contributed 60 as Bourne made 234 for six before the seasiders were bowled out for 72.
After rain delays at Cross O’Cliff Court, Woodhall found some batting form to finish their overs on 182 for eight, Ashley Schultz taking five wickets. But the leaders were unable to match this as Woodhall’s bowlers, assisted by two run outs, restricted the final total to 160.
Tom Andrews took five wickets for Market Deeping but could not prevent Louth making the day’s top total of 242. Deeping then fell 45 runs short of their target despite David Gillett’s innings of 70.
And Hartsholme recovered from 11 for four to finish on 146 for nine – then managed to defend this total, thanks in part to Henry Rush who took five wickets for 28 runs to help bowl Sleaford out for 117.
Valiant efforts were made by both sides to complete the game at Mulsanne Park where Grimsby reached 215 before their final wicket fell, Richard Antcliffe and Harry Warwick making half centuries. But 30 overs into the second innings, with Nettleham well placed on 158 for three - of which Dan Wright hit 53 - the teams had to admit defeat and abandon the game.

Results
Bourne 234-6 (Morgan 110no, Louth 60), Skegness 72 (Hopkins 6-28);
Lindum 239-5 (Robinson 117no), Boston 63 (Turner 7-38);
Louth 242 (Clark 59, Andrews 5-80), Market Deeping 197 (Gillett 70);
Woodhall Spa 182-8 (Schultz 5-49), Bracebridge Heath 160;
Grimsby 215 (Antcliffe 66. Warwick 51), Nettleham 158-3 (Wright 53) – (30 overs, match abandoned);
Hartsholme 146-9, Sleaford 117 (Rush 5-28);

HOW THEY STAND
Team P W L Draw Ab/Can Bat Bowl Win Draw Ab/Can Total
Bracebridge Heath 16 10 2 1 3 60 57 100 9 21 247
Bourne 16 8 5 2 1 52 61 80 10 8 211
Boston 16 7 4 4 1 46 54 70 26 8 204
Grimsby 16 7 5 1 2 51 48 70 7 13 189
Louth 16 5 6 3 2 50 52 50 19 16 187
Market Deeping 16 5 4 5 2 56 50 50 13 16 185
Hartsholme 16 4 3 6 3 52 47 40 24 21 184
Sleaford 16 6 7 2 1 55 44 60 16 8 183
Lindum 16 6 7 1 2 39 51 60 9 16 175
Skegness 16 4 6 4 2 48 41 40 26 13 168
Woodhall Spa 16 4 7 4 1 42 47 40 12 8 149
Nettleham 16 0 8 3 4 26 27 0 9 26 88