LINCS ECB PREMIER: Round-up

Home advantage meant nothing in the first week of the Lincolnshire ECB Premier League season as all five home teams lost.

There were exciting run chases at Woodhall Spa and Bourne, who fell just one run and two runs short respectively, while at Market Deeping, Lindum’s new captain Rob Cook signalled his intentions with an unbeaten 107 and Sleaford’s Tom Shorthouse started the season well with the day’s highest individual total of 113.

Sleaford also recorded the day’s top team score, notching up a massive 292 for five before Cameron Hall’s two early wickets looked to have ended Bourne’s hopes.

However, steady batting down the order brought the target ever closer and with three overs remaining, 25 runs were needed.

But it was not to be as the Bourne innings ended on 290 for eight, Hall finishing with four wickets.

At Woodhall, Scunthorpe captain Karanjit Bansal hit 60 and Tom Caswell took four wickets as the visitors were all out for 200.

Jack Timby made a welcome return to Jubilee Park, hitting 90 and with Matthew Sargeant taking the score to 100 for one.

When Timby was out, Woodhall were 180 for four and in sight of victory, but Scunthorpe’s opening bowlers, Danny Cliffe and Ben Brumby, once again joined forces to finish with three and four wickets respectively as the home side’s final wicket fell on 199.

Boston got off to a good start at home to Grantham but their batting fell away and their innings ended on 145.

Three Grantham wickets fell for 60 runs but opener Jaden Fell with an unbeaten 68 and new skipper Carl Wilson saw the visitors home.