9 Aug Wk 17

Low scores were the order of the day this week with ten teams failing to make three figure totals. Also there was only one score of 200 or more. The biggest cheer of the day though had to have come from the Aisthorpe players who registered their first win of the season after 15 attempts. The day also saw a first defeat of the season for Division Three leaders Caythorpe in a game which saw 17 wickets go down. No batsman managed a century this week but three came agonisingly close while a handful of bowlers collected five or six wicket hauls.

Premier League leaders Nettleham collected a third league double of the season when meeting Blankney. This game saw two Nettleham players, Matt Smith and Tom Dalton, put on 155 for the first wicket but both fail to go on to reach their centuries. Smith was stranded on 92 not out while Dalton was out for the same score as Nettleham were the only side to make over 200, closing on 241-3. Blankney were then, for the sixth successive game, bowled out for less than a hundred, making only 84, with opener Andy Foster top scorer with 27 while Rick Baker took 5-20. With Cherry Willingham inactive, Morton took full advantage to go above them into second place as they collected a good win over Boston, who had only lost once before, back in May. Boston batted first making just 120-9 which Morton reached for the loss of four wickets. The local city derby between Lindum and Hartsholme saw Hartsholme, not only reap revenge for an earlier season reverse, but also collect their first win in seven games. Lindum were bowled out for only 113 with top scorer being Alex Hornsby with his third 50 in successive games and Sam Inman collecting 4-25 for Hartsholme. Nick Wilkinson then hit 44 and Matt Wooldridge 37 as Hartsholme won by five wickets with Hornsby Lindums most successful bowler with 2-13. In the final Premier League game, Scothern created some space between them and the bottom two as they completed a double over Martin. Scothern posted a total of 171 with John Drabble making 35 and Joe Drabble 30 while Rob Noble took 4-30. Then in reply Martin were bowled out for 123 with Tom Harrison top scorer with 42, leaving Martin in danger of a quick return to Division One.

In this division North Scarle continue to look favourites for an immediate return to the top flight as they completed their second double over the season when beating one of their main promotion rivals, third placed Hykeham 1st. Batting first Hykeham made 115 which North Scarle reached for the loss of four wickets, thanks to a third fifty of the season from Chris Hogg. The closest match of the day was at Bassingham who entertained fourth placed BBH. Harry Ginniff top scored for BBH with 29 as they were restricted to 136-8 with N. Proctor taking 3-34, Rob Beddows 2-10 and Roger Peacock 2-19. In reply Bassingham lost wickets at regular intervals but Carl Gibson, with a top score of 28, had helped them edge their way to their target, Needing one run off the last ball to win the game, with their last pair at the wicket, S. Baker, who had made 19, was run out to see the third tied game recorded in the leagues this season. One bonus for Bassingham though was that collecting the ten points and seeing Washingborough loss their game at home to Old Lincolnians, moved them off the bottom of the table. At Washingboorugh the visitors made 146-5 but Washingborough were bowled out for 98 to see them without a win in five games. In the remaining game in this division at Saxilby both they and their opponents Waddington failed to make double figure totals. Waddington batting first scored just 98 but Gary Evans with his second five wicket haul in successive games, returning figures of 10-3-9-6 as Saxilby were skittled out for 42, their second total of less than fifty in a row.

The toast of Division Two were Aisthorpe who have battled gamely throughout this season without success. This week, visiting Bardney, they hit their highest away score, posting a total of 150 with stalwart, Mike Reynolds making 60. Then P. Chenuri returned figures of 5-17 as Bardney were bowled out 57 to give Aisthorpe a well deserved, first win. At the other end of the table Hecknigton continue to move towards promotion as they collected another victory, this time at Branston. Batting first Heckington made 170 with James Hutchinson the days top score making 97 while Neil Robson was Branstons best bowler with 6-20. In reply Branston were bowled out for 129 with Steve Crawford making 50 and Nathan Garfoot taking 5-35 as Heckington registered a third league double. Heighington kept their promotion hopes going as they went equal second as they were gifted 20 points by Nettleham who failed to raise a side. Also keeping their promotion hopes going were Owmby who hosted an eight man Winthorpe. The visitors were bowled out in 18 overs for 50 with N. Bailey making 23 while Anuj Mankar took 3-2 and Martyn Snell 2-14. Owmby, lost only one wicket reaching their target in ten overs with Rakesh Chandar-Nair making an unbeaten 22.

In Division Three leaders Caythorpe suffered their first defeat as a reported strengthened Lindum side beat them by just three wickets. Caythorpe made less than a hundred for the first time this season, being bowled out for 75 but then Lindum lost seven wickets before securing victory. Second placed Timberland were left frustrated for a second successive games as their game at Rustons was postponed due to an unfit pitch. As for Aswarby they may well have wished their game had been called off as they entertained Cherry Willingham 2nd and recorded the days lowest total, making just 34. For Cherry, Jamie Burnett took 4-10 and Phil Lunn 4-9. Cherry then lost four wickets of their own before winning the day. In the final game the two bottom sides met with Nocton visiting Reepham. Reepham posted the days second highest score of 186-9. Then a very young Nocton side was bowled out for 36.

PREMIER

Lindum 1st 113 Hartsholme 114-5

A. Hornsby (Lindum) 50

Hartsholme (20 pts) beat Lindum (4 bowling pts) by 5 wkts

Morton 121-4 Boston 1st 120

Morton (20 pts) beat Boston (4 bowling pts) by 6 wkts

Nettleham 1st 241-3 Blankney 84

M. Smith 92* / T. Dalton 92 / R. Baker 5-20 for Nettleham

Nettleham (20 pts) beat Blankney (2 batting pts) by 157 runs

Scothern 171 Martin 123

Scothern (20 pts) beat Martin (6 batting pts) by 48 runs

DIV ONE

Bassingham 136 BBH 136-8

Match tied 10 pts each

North Scarle 120-4 Hykeham 1st 115

C. Hogg (North Scarle) 50

North Scarle (20 pts) beat Hykeham (4 bowling pts) by 6 wkts

Saxilby 42 Waddington 84

Waddington (20pts) beat Saxilby (4 batting pts) by 42 runs

Washingborough 98 Old Lincolnians 146-5

Old Lincolnians (20 pts) beat Washingborough (6 batting pts) by 48 runs

DIV TWO

Bardney 57 Aisthorpe 150

M. Reynolds 60 / P. Chenuri 5-17 for Aisthorpe

Aisthorpe (20 pts) beat Bardney (2 batting pts) by 93 runs

Branston 129 Heckington 170

J. Hutchinson 97 / N. Garfoot 5-35 for Heckington

S. Crawford 50 / N. Robson 6-20 for Branston

Heckington (20 pts) beat Branston (6 batting pts) by 41 runs

Heighington v Nettleham 2nd

Postponed Nettleham failed to fulfil (2nd occasion in season)

Heighington 20 pts Nettleham 10 points deducted

Owmby 52-1 Winthorpe 50-7

Owmby (20 pts) beat Winthorpe by 9 wkts

DIV THREE

Aswarby 34 Cherry Willingham 2nd 35-4

Cherry Willingham (20 pts) beat Aswarby (4 bowling pts) by 6 wkts

Caythorpe 75 Lindum 2nd 76-7

Lindum (20 pts) beat Caythorpe (6 bowling pts) by 3 wkts

Reepham 186-9 ? Nocton 36

Reepham (20 pts) beat Nocton

Rustons v Timberland

Postponed ground unfit 5 pts each

TOP BATSMEN

J. Hutchinson (Heckington) 97 .v. Branston

M. Smith (Nettleham 1st) 92* .v. Blankney

T. Dalton (Nettleham 1st) 92 .v. Blankney

M. Reynolds (Aisthorpe) 60 .v. Bardney

A. Hornsby (Lindum) 50 .v. Hartsholme

C. Hogg (North Scarle) 50 .v. Hykeham 1st

S. Crawford (Branston) 50 .v. Heckington

TOP BOWLER

G. Evans (Waddington) 6-9 .v. Saxilby

N. Robson (Blankney) 6-20 .v. Heckington

P. Chenuri (Aisthorpe) 5-17 .v. Bardney

R. Baker (Nettleham 1st) 5-20 .v. Blankney

N. Garfoot (Heckington) 5-35 .v. Branston

HIGHEST SCORES

Nettleham 1st 241-3 .v. Blankney

Reepham 186-9 .v. Nocton

100 PARTNERSHIPS

155 runs (1st wkt) T. Dalton / M. Smith (Nettleham) v Blankney

LOWEST SCORES

Aswarby 34 .v. Cherry Willingham 2nd

Nocton 36 .v. Reepham

Saxilby 42 .v. Waddington

BIGGEST WINNING MARGIN

157 runs Nettleham 241-3 Blankney 84

150 runs Reepham 186-9 Nocton 36

CLOSEST FINISHES

Tie Bassingham 136 BBH 136-8

41 runs Branston 129 Heckington 170

42 runs Saxilby 42 Waddington 85

HIGHEST AGGREGATE SCORES

325-13 Nettleham 241-4 Blankney 84