While the manner of their losing draw at home to Lindum on Saturday may not have been as embarrassing as the previous week's annihilation at the hands of current leaders Woodhall Spa, it was still another disappointing result for Sleaford.

They won the toss and put Lindum in to bat. Hopes were high when danger man Josh Brodie was run out for just three in the third over but it was another 24 overs before the next wicket fell.

Bishop and Hornsby set Lindum on the road to victory with a second wicket stand of 113.

The introduction of spin, with Bradford and Smith entering the attack, helped to curtail the run rate and brought some success for Sleaford. Bradford finished with figures of 3 for 37 and Smith 3 for 88.

But even their efforts could not prevent Lindum going on to claim maximum batting points with a score of 237 for 8 off their 50 overs. Bishop top scored with 69, with Hornsby chipping in with 48 and Rutherford an undefeated 47.

The Sleaford innings once again relied heavily on opener Warren Nel. He struck a confident 55 but was the only home batsman that managed to make a score of any note. Nel and Tomlin (13) put on 43 for the first wicket before Tomlin was caught by man of the match Rutherford off the bowling of Lane.
By the 38th over, Sleaford had lost eight wickets but somehow managed to hold on for another 12 overs to force a draw. Their innings closed on 126 for 9, with Rutherford (4-15) the most successful of the Lindum bowlers and Ransal (3-15) giving him good support.

After such a disappointing start to the season, Sleaford will be hoping to pick up their first win of the season at bottom placed Haxey.

*Woodhall Spa retained top spot in the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League and maintained their 100 per cent record, this time at the expense of Grimsby.

Northamptonshire all-rounder Andrew Crook, a member at Woodhall for the past two years, gave a man of the match performance, taking six for 52 to help bowl Grimsby out for 180 after the visitors had earlier reached 113 for two, with Oliver Burford making 60.

Crook was also in good batting form, hitting 74 as Woodhall claimed a seven wicket win.

Defending champions Bracebridge Heath, currently in second place, made 319 for four against Messingham thanks to half centurues from Mark Fell (92), Jason Vero (76), Rob Cook (67) and Paul Cook (50). But the league champions were almost denied maximum points as Messingham took their innings into the final over before losing their last wicket on 205, Stuart Airey claiming five for 52.