Lincolnshire cricket round-up

Woodhall Spa moved to the top of the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League after Grimsby Town pulled off their second giantkilling act of the season.

And Spalding recorded their first victory of the season, defeating Sleaford in another surprise result.

Having seen off 2014 champions Bourne two weeks ago, Lee Charlton’s side demolished league leaders Bracebridge Heath at Augusta Street, Charlton taking six wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 67.

Grimsby also lost early wickets but from 32 for four, Michael Brown and Brendan Volley saw their side to victory.

Woodhall are now the only unbeaten side in the league, while opponents Louth are the only team without a victory after going down by seven wickets at Jubilee Park.

Woodhall were set a target of 175, Malinga Bandara’s five for 65 helping bowl Louth out and the home side made steady progress towards the total, losing just three wickets, with skipper Jack Luffman there at the close on an unbeaten 85.

At London Road, Spalding’s top order batted steadily, captain Rob Ambrose top scoring with 42.

The middle and lower orders also contributed double figures as the innings closed on 236 for six, three of the wickets falling to Tom Shorthouse.

Sleaford lost an early wicket but Jonny Cheer and Shorthouse steadied the ship.

However, when Shorthouse became Mark Joyce’s first victim, Cheer lost partners with increasing regularity and at the close was left high and dry on 115 not out as Sleaford’s innings ended on 193, Joyce and Warren Nel with four wickets each.

The day’s top individual score came from Conrad Louth whose unbeaten 151 helped Bourne to the highest team total of 277 for eight.

Louth took a liking to the Market Rasen pitch, facing just 144 balls and hitting 17 fours and four sixes and putting on 121 for the third wicket with Pete Morgan (60) after two wickets had fallen for 36 runs.

Martin Shillito then stepped up to open the bowling, taking five for 39 as Rasen were bowled out for 86.

This puts Bourne equal second in the table with Bracebridge Heath while Rasen are equal fourth with Market Deeping and Lindum.

The Lincoln side’s third victory of the season came at Skegness who reduced their guests to 14 for two before Will Wright and Luke Robinson joined forces to add 55.

Robinson made 51 while Geoff Middleton made 60 batting at six, but three wickets each for Norman Brackley, Brendan Young and Umar Farooq saw Lindum out for a relatively modest 207.

Skegness lost five wickets for just 69 runs before Brackley and Sean Chamberlain dug in but from 147 for six, the seasiders collapsed to 155 all out, Joe Peatman with six for 45.

Market Deeping took on Grantham at Gorse Lane where Emile Kriek (61) and Tom Andrews (50) shared a partnership of 101 for the sixth wicket.

But from 179 for five, Deeping fell victim to Karanjit Bansal who dismissed both top scorers and went on to take five for 61 as the visitors were all out for 204.

Andrews and Pat Brown then reduced Grantham to 21 for four and despite the efforts of Rohan Nurse with 40, the home side were all out for 119.

Results: Louth 175 (Bandara 5-64), Woodhall Spa 176-3 (Luffman 85no); Market Deeping 204 (Kriek 61, T Andrews 50, Bansal 5-61), Grantham 119; Bourne 277-8 (Louth 151no, Morgan 60), Market Rasen 86 (Shillito 5-39); Lindum 207 (Robinson 51, Middleton 60), Skegness 155 (Peatman 6-45); Bracebridge Heath 67 (Charlton 6-31), Grimsby 70-4; Spalding 236-6, Sleaford 193 (Cheer 115).

Gaps are opening up in all three divisions of the South Lincolnshire & Border League with the leaders in each still unbeaten.

Boston have a 24 point advantage over Bourne Seconds in the Premier Division following their eight-wicket win over Woodhall Spa Seconds in which Scott Elleray took six wickets while Market Deeping lead by 37 in Division One, where second placed Freiston have a game in hand.

Deeping won a high-scoring game against Lindum Thirds, Ryan Bainborough making the day’s only century with 109 as Deeping racked up a total of 243 for four but were unable to bowl out their opponents who finished in 216 for seven, Ollie Alford with 76.

A much lower scoring match saw Freiston win by three wickets against Welby for whom David Curran took five wickets.

Two teams are dominating Division Two - Claypole have 95 points from five matches while Baston have 74 from four.