SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE & BORDER LEAGUE JUNE 29 HIGHLIGHTS

BY ANN BOULTON

Boston and Billingborough caught up their game in hand over Stamford Town – and now just four points separate the top three in the South Lincolnshire & Border League Premier Division.
This makes the next two weekends crucial to all three as current leaders Boston entertain Stamford on July 6 while Billingborough are away at Uffington Road the following Saturday.
Paul Deans’ five wickets, taking his total to 35 for the season, were instrumental in Boston’s win over Sleaford 2nd while Luke Hollingworth took his runs total over the 300 mark with 68 in Billingborough’s victory over Lindum Ramblers.
Belton Park scored a welcome 13 run win over Woodhall Spa and are now in equal ninth place with Welby who went down to Bourne 2nd.  Bourne made the day’s highest score of 257-6, thanks to Matt Creaney (81) and Jonny Murdoch (83).
In Division One, Long Sutton’s lead stretched to 33 over Baston who went down to Friskney while Sutton overcame fourth placed Thomas Cook by three wickets. 
At the bottom of the table, Blankney stayed above Moulton Harrox Sunday after both scored victories over Heckington and Boston 2nd respectively.
Matt Cox of Billingborough 2nd was the division’s top wicket taker with six for 42 but could not prevent his side going down to Spalding 2nd by 16 runs.
The top of the table battle in Division Two resulted in a slender one wicket win for Cavaliers who closed the gap on leaders Long Sutton 2nd to 16 points.  James Baker took five wickets for Sutton but Cavaliers’ last pair hung on for victory.
A high scoring game at Timberland saw Dan Blankley make 76 as the home side reached 253 for seven.  Nick Bottomley replied with 56 for Welby but Paul Durward’s five wickets helped bowl the visitors out for 202.
The day’s only century was scored by Freiston’s Zeeshan Saeed who made an unbeaten 105 in his side’s second match of the weekend.  On Saturday, Freiston went down by two wickets to third placed Claypole but on Sunday, Saeed’s innings ensured a resounding win over Pinchbeck.

Premier Division  
Sleaford 2nd 82 (Deans 5-10), Boston 86-5;
Billingborough 159-6 (Hollingworth 68), Lindum 102;
Bourne 2nd 257-6 (Creaney 81, Murdoch 83), Welby 120;
Belton Park 103-9, Woodhall Spa 2nd 90;
Skegness 2nd 116, Grantham 117-8;

Division One
Friskney 232-8 (Grant 51), Baston 130;
Thomas Cook 164-8, Long Sutton 168-7 (A Wright 52);
Blankney 108 (Braithwaite 5-21), Heckington 63;
Spalding 2nd 190 (Klompas 62, Cox 6-42), Billingborough 2nd 174 (Stanley 65);
Moulton Harrox Sunday 155, Boston 2nd 110;

Division Two
Long Sutton 2nd 101 (Shore 60), Cavaliers 105-9 (Baker 5-26);
Freiston 128, Claypole 129-8;
Timberland 253-7 (Blankley 76), Welby 2nd 202 (Bottomley 56, Durward 5-39);
Grantham 2nd 154-9 (Shaw 70), Spalding 3rd 157-4;
Lindum 3rd 160-7, Boston 3rd 91;
Freiston 240-7 (Saeed 105no), Pinchbeck 60 (Atkinson 5-20);