SLEAFORD 2nd XI recorded their second outright win, thanks in part to a six wicket haul from Bryan Smith.
Playing at Caythorpe, Sleaford made 153 for seven, with opener Sneath scoring 40 before being run out.
A gallant unbeaten 69 from 18 year old James Redmile gave the home side some hope but, with Smith in devastating form with the ball, Sleaford di
smissed Caythorpe for 126 to win by 27 runs. Smith finished with figures of 6-26.
l LAST year’s champions Long Sutton suffered their first defeat of 2008 in only the second week of the season, after losing just one match in the whole of the previous year.
Billingborough, who finished third in 2007, bowled their visitors out for 123 before going on to win by two wickets despite the efforts of Tom Dale, who took five for 24.
Boston also picked up points once again in a high scoring and game at Oakham, where Lee Brooks' unbeaten 62 saw the visitors to 211 for nine. Oakham then came within 16 runs of the visitors' total, Sam Wills making 78 not out.
Things were even closer at Belton Park where the home side reached 157 for nine, Danny Wells taking five for 48. In reply, Woodhall Spa fell just six runs short of victory, losing their last wicket on 151.
In Division Two, Thomas Cook were no match for Spalding's bowlers as, chasing their opponents total of 141 for six, they were all out for 73. And in Boston's 2nd XI match, Colin Saville's five for 14 restricted the home side to 91, a total Moulton Harrox overtook for the loss of six wickets.
It was a bowlers’ game at Long Sutton in Division Three where Baston's Tim Dyer took six for 18 as the home side were all out for 102. But Paul Deans then claimed five for 26 as Baston were all out for 67.
Heckington fared even worse at the hands of league newcomers Skegness, collapsing to 37 all out - Steve O'Dare taking five for 11 - a total the home side overtook for the loss of three wickets.
Results:
Division One: Boston 211-9 (Brooks 62no), Oakham 195-8 (Wills 78no); Sleaford 2nd 153-7, Caythorpe 126 (Redmile 69no, Smith 6-26); Belton Park 157-9 (Wells 5-48), Woodhall Spa 151; Grantham 230-8 (Wilson 54, Nkomo 71), Bourne 2nd 104; Ramblers 195 (Farrell 91), Market Deeping 2nd 144 (Andrews 65, Lawson 5-17); Long Sutton 123, Billingborough 124-8 (Dale 5-24)
Division Two: Spalding 141-6, Thomas Cook 73; Boston 2nd 91 (Saville 5-14), Moulton Harrox 94-6
Division Three: Long Sutton 2nd (Dyer 6-18) 102; Baston 67 (Deans 5-26); Heckington 37 (S O'Dare 5-11), Skegness 38-3.
The full article contains 468 words and appears in Sleaford Standard newspaper.
