South Lincs & Border League
Division One
Grantham 138
Welby 117
Grantham continued their good form at home on Gorse Lane and winning the toss, decided to bat on a damp track.
In the first few overs, Martin Parmley set about some loose bowling, hitting a quick-fire 19, but Welby’s bowlers adjusted to the conditions well and a couple of wickets soon fell.
Gaz Bennett (20) and Matt Wing (39) started to rebuild the innings but Grantham conceded some wickets cheaply.
In reply, Welby got off to a steady start before Adam Parker (4-28) started to cause them some real problems with the ball. He was backed up by Ady Wing (2-30) and Neel Stevenson (3-25), leaving Welby 87 for 8.
The Welby tailenders rallied and got them close before Bennett removed F. Sloss, quickly followed by Stevenson taking the last wicket.
South Notts League
Division A
Wollaton 176-7
Belvoir 122-9
Belvoir lost wickets at regular intervals, with Wollaton skipper Adam Davies the star, taking 7-49.
Belvoir captain Olly Clayfield was looking good before he was caught, and Tony Dyer at number seven scored a patient 27 including five good boundaries.
Belvoir’s man-of-the-match was number 10 Danny Gibson who doggedly earned the points for a losing draw with 8no from 56 balls, along with Alex Forbes (1no) from 24 balls.
In reply, Belvoir’s bowlers were tidy and wicketes fell steadily. Lewis Dann (3-50) removed the heart of Wollaton’s middle order to reduce them to 105-5.
A superb run and diving catch at mid-wicket by Forbes saw Belvoir on top briefly, but a purple patch had Wollaton rack up 71 runs from the last eight overs.
Division C
Newark R&M 48
Bottesford 49-5
Victory took Bottesford to the top of the league after they won the toss and asked the Newark side to bat on a very wet Kelham Road wicket.
Strike bowlers Phil Irvine (4-25) and Lee Fazackerley (5-10) inflicted damage aplenty, with Godfrey Sutton’s catch securing the latter a hat trick.
In replay, Bottesford knocked off the runs in difficult conditions in 14.4 overs, but still losing five wickets in the process.
Grantham & Melton Association
Division One
Empingham 100
Buckminster 101-8
Buckminster maintained their unbeaten start to the season in an exciting game where any result appeared possible until Alex Forbes hitting the winning runs.
Forbes (2-19), Jack Berry (2-29) and Tim Gadsby (4-30) had bowled the home side into a strong position after electing to give Empingham the bat.
When Jon Senescall (27), Dave Allen (33) and Andy Roberts (19) took Buckminster to 75-1, there seemed only one winner until four wickets fell for ducks.
It was left to Forbes and Jason Martin to ease the nerves and seal the two-wicket victory.
Division Two
Grantham 143-8
Whissendine 108
Having won the toss, Whissendine elected to bowl first which looked to be the correct decision when Grantham were three wickets down inside eight overs, with the score on 21.
M. Wing (31) and G. Bennett proceeded to bat cautiously to see off the strike bowlers. Grantham’s middle order dug deep in the second 20 overs. C. Standen (16) and A. Wing (21) ensured the score would be respectable, while D. Bates had a short cameo in the last five overs, scoring a quick fire 22no, including a 75-yard six.
In reply, tight bowling from A. Wing (2-15) removed both openers, and H. Stevens (0-15), who was unfortunate not to take a wicket, ensured that Whissendine would not get off to a flier.
Nevertheless, it was D. Ashley (4-11) and G. Bennett (3-23) who did the damage to the Whissendine batting line-up, tearing through the middle order. Short spells were given to J. Carpenter and S. Danford, before Ashley took the final wicket.