SOUTH LINCS & BORDER ROUND-UP - MAY 18

FROM ANN BOULTON

Bourne 2^nd moved to the top of the South Lincolnshire & Border League Premier Division after a big win over Woodhall Spa 2^nd, three half centuries helped the visitors to 249 for seven before Woodhall were bowled out for 96.

But hot on the heels of the leaders’ 81 points are Billingborough and Boston, both only three points adrift and with a game in hand, while Stamford Town are also on 78.

Billingborough beat Skegness 2^nd while Paul Deans’ figures of six for eight helped Boston overcome Moulton Harrox and Stamford coasted to a nine wicket win after bowling Sleaford 2^nd out for 84.

Newly promoted Welby lost to Grantham by 21 runs and Lindum Ramblers scored a five wicket win over Belton Park.

In Division One, Barry Stanway took seven for 16 as leaders Long Sutton bowled Blankney out for a meagre 31 – but the home side were made to fight all the way to retain their top position, losing seven wickets on their way to victory.

Baston stay second following a six wicket win over Thomas Cook and Friskney overcame Stamford Town 2^nd to stay third.

Heckington and Boston 2^nd fought out the closest game of the day, Boston failing by just 14 runs to reach their target of 203.

And Shaun Brown was the unluckiest player of the weekend, losing his wicket on 99 as Billingborough 2^nd beat Moulton Harrox Sunday to move off the bottom of the table.

The growing number of young players in the league is evident in Division Two where Spalding 3^rd fielded six under-15s as they beat Grantham 2^nd.  Alex Hackney took six wickets for Grantham but Richard Dale replied with the same haul for Spalding.

The division’s other young side, Lindum 3^rd, failed to defend a total of 171 as Timberland claimed a seven wicket win.

Claypole now top this division, having taken 98 points out of a possible 100 this season, while second placed Long Sutton 2^nd are just four behind them.

The leaders beat Freiston by six wickets while Rob Simpson’s figures of five for four prevented Boston reaching Long Sutton’s seemingly low total of 74, Steve Appleyard taking six wickets for Boston.

 Premier Division

Sleaford 84, Stamford Town 87-1;

Skegness 2^nd 104-8, Billingborough 105-2 (Scott 56no);

Bourne 2^nd 249-7 (R Bentley 50, T Bentley 76, Christmas 55, Hughes 5-43), Woodhall Spa 2^nd 96;

Boston 228-6 (Evans 81, Baxter 54), Moulton Harrox 111 (Deans 6-8);

Grantham 138, Welby 117;

Belton Park 147-8, Lindum Ramblers 148-5;

Division One

Friskney 232-6, Stamford Town 2^nd 129 (M Troops 5-39);

Blankney 31 (Stanway 7-16); Long Sutton 32-7;

Thomas Cook 134 (Narayanan 54) Baston 135-4 (Howard 50);

Spalding 2^nd 186-9 (Trotman 5-32), Market Deeping 2^nd 71;

Heckington 203-8 (Morley 91, Tunnicliffe 64), Boston 2^nd 189-5;

Billingborough 2^nd 300-7 (Botadra 80, Brown 99), Moulton Harrox Sunday 108 (Ginn 5-16);

Division Two

Freiston 109, Claypole 115-4;

Spalding 3^rd 156-8 (Clarke 52no, Hackney 6-34), Grantham 2^nd 27 (Dale 6-15);

Lindum 3^rd 171-6, Timberland 175-3;

Welby 2^nd 128-9, Pinchbeck 111;

Long Sutton 2^nd 74 (Appleyard 6-22), Boston 3^rd 48 (Simpson 5-4);

Burgh & District v Cavaliers – cancelled, waterlogged pitch