MAIDEN HALF-CENTURY FOR DAVID, 14

As the sun finally came out over the county’s cricket fields, young players took their chance to shine in the South Lincolnshire & Border League.

A maiden half century for 14 year old David Thomas helped Spalding 2^nd XI to victory and second place in Division Two while in the same division, Alex Birch (15) took seven wickets for Stamford Town 2^nd.

In Division One, Billingborough moved to the top after former leaders Spalding lost by just two wickets to third placed Stamford Town.

The 2011 champions now lead Spalding by seven points while Stamford are 15 behind the leaders but with a game in hand.

Geordie Scott’s six for 25 helped Billingborough shoot Skegness 2^nd out for 51 and go on to win by eight wickets.    But at Spalding it was much tighter affair.  The home side lost early wickets and found themselves 48 for five before Ansar Hussain joined Charlie Kearns (23) in a  stand of 59. 

Hussain went on to make 59 and help his side to a respectable 159 before the final wicket fell, Simon Lem taking four wickets.

Stamford got off to a much better start, Andrew Hulme and Chris Bore putting on 68 before a wicket fell.  By the time Hussain dismissed Hulme for 85, the visitors were 142 for five but the next three wickets fell for only 12 runs and it was left to bowlers James Ferrow, who had earlier taken two wickets and Steve Armstrong to see Stamford to victory.

The division’s top scorers were Jack Barnett who hit an unbeaten 133 in a high scoring game between Moulton Harrox and Bourne 2^nd, Ben Burrows who made an unbeaten 199 for Sleaford against Market Deeping and Richard Cocks with 90 in Belton Park’s victory over Grantham.

In Division Two, bottom side Baston scored a surprise victory over Boston 2^nd to stay in touch with the teams above them.  Despite Luke Gilding’s unbeaten 73, Boston were bowled out for 109 and Baston went on to win by five wickets, Jon Howard hitting 53.

Spalding 2^nd lie second after a narrow two wicket win over Blankney but Cavaliers remain in the relegation zone after losing the local derby against Thomas Cook for whom Dean Lynes took five wickets.

Claypole and Spalding 3^rd are neck and neck at the top of Division Three but the Newark side, who beat Timberland, have the advantage of a game in hand. 

Lindum Academy pulled off the result of the day with a 10 wicket win over Grantham 2^nd who had set them a challenging total of 176 for seven.  Oliver Smith took three wickets for Lindum then went on to make 73 and in partnership with Dylan Garforth (80no) take his side to victory.

Nick Bottomley with 116 not out and Angus Youles with 97 helped Welby 2nd to 281 for five in a high scoring game against Pinchbeck who replied with 178 for six.

Division One

Skegness 2^nd 51 (Scott 6-25), Billingborough 52-2;

Woodhall Spa 2^nd 62, Lindum Ramblers 63-2;

Spalding 159 (Hussain 59), Stamford Town 160-8 (Hulme 85);

Sleaford 2^nd 312-4 (Burrows 119no, Sneath 58, Rickett 56), Market Deeping 37 (Goddard 5-17);

Moulton Harrox 263-6 (J Barnett 133no), Bourne 185 (A Stroud 62);

Grantham 186 (S Mudie 64, Ward 5-43), Belton Park 187-6 (Cocks 90);

Division Two

Billingborough 2^nd 89 (Birch 7-19), Stamford Town 2^nd 93-6;

Boston 2^nd 109 (Gilding 73no), Baston 110-5 (Howard 58);

Blankney 142, Spalding 2^nd 143-8 (Thomas 56no);

Cavaliers 130 (Lynes 5-19), Thomas Cook 131-5;

Division Three

Grantham 2^nd 176-7, Lindum Academy 179-0 (Garforth 80no, Smith 73no);

Welby 2^nd 281-5 (A Youles 97, Bottomley 116 no), Pinchbeck 178-6 (Smith 63, Myles 5-40);

Claypole 137-9, Timberland 73

Boston 3^rd v Burgh & District – Burgh conceded