READERS LINCS ECB PREMIER ROUND-UP BY ANN BOULTON

READERS LINCOLNSHIRE ECB PREMIER LEAGUE

May 18^th

Grimsby drew six points clear at the top of the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League after winning one of the day’s two closest games.

Market Deeping batted first at Augusta Street and made 221, skipper David Gillett hitting 70 and David White recording his best bowling figures for Grimsby with five for 53.

In reply, the home side were soon in trouble on eight for three but once again the younger generation came to the rescue, Harry Warwick and Jack Wilson putting on 119 for the fourth wicket.

Warwick made 77 and Wilson 45 as Grimsby closed in on their target and it was Lee Charlton with an unbeaten 57 who saw them to victory with just three balls of the match left.

Skegness had only two balls to go when they claimed victory over Bracebridge Heath.  Chasing the former champions’ 165 for seven, of which Hymie Bentley made 52, the seasiders scraped home with just two wickets still standing to share fourth place with Market Deeping.

Spalding continued their giant-killing spree with a convincing win over 2012 champions Haxey.  Having seen off Bracebridge Heath two weeks ago, the league newcomers were once again indebted to Zimbabwean Campbell Light who hit 55 as the home side were out for a modest 147, Paul Bell and Josh Savage each taking four wickets.

But Light then showed his bowling skills, taking seven for 35 off nine overs as Haxey were all out for 56.

Sleaford continued their rapid climb up the league, moving into joint second place after beating Hartsholme by eight wickets at London Road, Tom Shorthouse making 58 for the home side.

Sharing this position are Louth who were held to a draw by Lindum.  Louth recorded the day’s highest total of 244 for six without any batsman topping 50, but Karanjit Bansal made 52 for Lindum and from 141 for five, Ben Powell and Jon Miller saw their side home, taking eight points to Louth’s 14.

Prasanna Jayawardena returned to batting form with an unbeaten 57 as Woodhall Spa beat Bourne by five wickets at Abbey Lawn, Pete Morgan making 60 for Bourne and Sathpath Kelum taking six for 37 for the visitors.

Results

Spalding 147 (Light 55), Haxey 56 (Light 7-35);

Hartsholme 112, Sleaford 114-2 (Shorthouse 58);

Bracebridge Heath 165-7 (Bentley 52), Skegness 166-8;

Louth 244-6, Lindum 189-5 (Bansal 52);

Bourne 142 (Morgan 60, Kelum 6-37), Woodhall Spa 146-5 (Jayawardena 57no);

Market Deeping 221 (Gillett 70, White 5-53), Grimsby 225-7 (Warwick 77, Charlton 57no).

	P	W	L	Draw	NR	Bat	Bowl	Win	Total
Grimsby	5	3	0	1	1	19	18	30	75
Sleaford	5	3	1	1	0	19	17	30	69
Louth	5	1	0	3	1	19	14	10	69
Market Deeping	5	3	2	0	0	17	18	30	65
Skegness	5	3	2	0	0	17	18	30	65
Woodhall Spa	5	3	1	0	1	13	14	30	62
Bracebridge Heath	5	2	2	0	1	12	15	20	52
Spalding	5	2	2	0	1	9	13	20	47
Bourne	5	1	2	1	1	11	11	10	40
Haxey	5	1	3	0	1	8	13	10	36
Lindum	5	0	3	2	0	9	11	0	30
Hartsholme	5	0	4	0	1	1	10	0	16