READERS LINCS ECB ROUND-UP BY ANN BOULTON

Market Deeping returned to the top of the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League yesterday (June 8) following a three wicket victory over Louth who have slipped from fifth to eighth in the table in just two weeks.

Azeem Ghumann hit 51 of Louth’s final score of 192, a total Deeping reached for the loss of seven wickets.

Woodhall Spa lost the lead after coming out on the wrong side of a draw at home to Lindum but picked up 11 points to stay equal second with Grimsby.

Will Wright added 49 to last weekend’s half century as Lindum were all out in the final over for 204.

Jonathan Cheer then hit 64 and Prasanna Jayawardena 58 but when Karanjit Bansal and Luke Robinson entered the attack, wickets began to tumble.  However the final pair hung on to deny Lindum an outright win as the overs ran out on 185 for nine.

Grimsby got back to winning ways and Jim Morgan hit his second century of the season at Skegness who, after a good start to the innings, were restricted to 213 for eight, Saeed Bariwala hitting 50.

Morgan and Jack Wilson (53) then put on 142 before the first wicket fell and this was the seasiders’ only success as Morgan went on to make 116 not out and with Harry Warwick (41no) take the visitors to victory.

Bracebridge Heath continued their steady progress up the table with a win over Sleaford though having elected to bat, at 37 for three then 49 for four – all four wickets falling to Shaun Morris - the home side looked to be in trouble.

Nick John and Matt Carter added 74 and when John was out for 73, Bracebridge were 153 for six.  Andy Carter then went on the attack, hitting 55 off 35 balls with seven fours and two sixes and an unbeaten 34 from Carl Stubbs saw the total reach 243 for eight.

Sleaford got off to a better start, Tim McIntosh hitting 53 and helping the score to 111 for two but once again it was Matt Bradley who did the damage, dismissing McIntosh and going on to take six for 25 as Sleaford were bowled out for 156.

The highest scoring game came lower down the table as Hartsholme hosted Spalding and set them a target of 245 for eight, Tim Brown making 88.  But the league newcomers were up to the challenge, Warren Nel hitting an unbeaten 76, Josh Newton scoring 69 and new signing Chris Dring making 56 to help their side to a seven wicket win.

At Haxey, Ben Stroud made an unbeaten 82 as Bourne’s overs ran out on 203 for eight, a total the home side were unable to equal as they finished on 174 for nine.

Results

Lindum 204, Woodhall Spa 185-9 (Cheer 64, Jayawardena 58);

Skegness 213-8 (Bariwala 50), Grimsby 217-1 (Morgan 116no, Wilson 53);

Bracebridge Heath 243-8 (John 73, A Carter 55), Sleaford 156 (McIntosh 53, Bradley 6-25);

Hartsholme 245-8 (Brown 88), Spalding 246-3 (Nel 76no, Newton 69, Dring 56);

Louth 192 (Ghumann 51), Market Deeping 195-7;

Bourne 203-8 (Stroud 82no), Haxey 174-9;

	P	W	L	Draw	NR	Bat	Bowl	Win	Total
Market Deeping	8	5	3	0	0	32	29	50	111
Woodhall Spa	8	5	1	1	1	22	29	50	109
Grimsby	8	4	1	2	1	29	29	40	109
Bracebridge Heath	8	3	2	2	1	27	27	30	105
Skegness	8	4	3	1	0	28	24	40	95
Sleaford	8	4	3	1	0	27	25	40	95
Spalding	8	3	2	2	1	20	22	30	85
Louth	8	1	3	3	1	25	24	10	85
Lindum	8	1	3	4	0	23	23	10	82
Bourne	8	1	3	3	1	21	20	10	67
Haxey	8	2	4	1	1	14	23	20	65
Hartsholme	8	1	6	0	1	9	16	10	40