CENTURY BY RICHARD ANTCLIFFE FOR GRIMSBY TOWN

BY ANN BOULTON

In a rain affected weekend the top two in the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League both completed their games – and four batsmen celebrated hitting centuries.

But while Skegness picked up 18 points against Louth, Haxey were on the wrong end of a draw at Grimsby.

Skegness extended their lead to 16 points despite being held to a modest 187 for nine by Louth who were then bowled out for 127, Saeed Bariwala claiming five wickets to take his total for the season to 41.

And at Grimsby, Richard Antcliffe hit an unbeaten 102 as his side’s 55 overs finished on 206 for seven.  Haxey were then held to 175 for nine, picking up nine points while Grimsby took 15 to move up to sixth place.

Bracebridge Heath stay third despite once again falling foul of the weather after just 38 overs of play in which Lindum had made 130 for four, Richard Bishop with 69.

And at Boston, fourth placed Woodhall Spa where on 174 for six, chasing the home side’s 192 when bad light brought the game to a premature end.  Earlier, Jonny Cheer hit the day’s highest individual score of 144 for Boston while for Woodhall Luke Smith took six wickets and Jack Hughes made four wicketkeeping dismissals.

This result benefited bottom side Hartsholme who closed the gap on Boston to nine points after a welcome victory at Bourne.  Matthew Wooldridge made the day’s third century with an unbeaten 133 as the visitors reached 235 for five.  Martin Shillito then took five wickets as Bourne were all out for 91.

At London Road, Sleaford were put in to bat by Market Deeping and racked up 316 for two, Matthew Mountain the fourth centurion with an unbeaten 137, Jonathan Adams with 62 and Garry Park hitting 91 off 61 balls.

In reply, Deeping lost both openers to Sam Burrows in single figures while left them struggling for runs, the innings finishing on 179 for four, Josh Bowers making 70.

RESULTS

Sleaford 316-2 (Mountain 137no, Adams 62, Park 91), Market Deeping 179-4 (Bowers 70);

Hartsholme 235-5 (Woodridge 133no), Bourne 91 (Shillito 5-21);

Skegness 187-9, Louth 127 (Bariwala 5-33);

Grimsby 206-7 (Antcliffe 102no), Haxey 175-9;

Boston 192 (Cheer 144, Smith 6-69), Woodhall Spa 174-6 (Luffman 71) – bad light stopped play

Lindum 130-4 (Bishop 69) v Bracebridge Heath – rain stopped play

	P	W	L	Draw	NR	Bat	Bowl	Win	Total
Skegness	16	9	3	0	4	47	53	90	210
Haxey	16	8	3	1	4	38	53	80	194
Bracebridge Heath	15	5	1	2	7	32	33	50	166
Woodhall Spa	15	5	3	1	6	37	38	50	162
Sleaford	16	6	5	1	4	30	42	60	161
Grimsby	16	3	6	2	5	31	43	30	143
Louth	16	4	4	1	7	25	33	40	136
Bourne	16	2	4	3	7	33	31	20	132
Lindum	16	4	5	1	6	18	38	40	127
Market Deeping	16	3	4	2	7	27	29	30	125
Boston	16	3	7	0	6	14	33	30	107
Hartsholme	16	2	9	0	5	22	31	20	98