Bracebridge close gap on Bourne

Bracebridge Heath closed the gap slightly on Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League leaders Bourne, picking up 20 points to their rivals 16 after both had bowled their opposition out cheaply.

At Abbey Lawn, Bourne were all out for 142, Conrad Louth hitting 64 and Dan Milgate taking 5-44 for Boston. But Fahad Masood proved too accurate for the visiting batsmen, taking 5-41 as Boston could only reach 90 before the final wicket fell.

At London Road, Louth batted first but met Matt Bradley in good form, the Bracebridge bowler taking 6-14 as the home side were all out for 88, a total the visitors knocked off for the loss of four wickets.

Sleaford are now breathing down Bracebridge’s neck, having hit the highest total of the day at Augusta Street as they overcame Grimsby to move into third while their opponents slipped won to seventh behind Market Deeping whose game against Hartsholme was rained off without a ball being bowled.

Sleaford’s Dammika Gunawardena was the day’s only centurion, hitting an unbeaten 138 in his side’s 275 for five.

In an unexpected result at Richmond Road, Skegness went down heavily to Lindum who are back in the top six after hitting 206 for eight then demolishing the seasiders for just 75.

And Fawad Alam, playing his last game for Woodhall Spa before joining the Pakistan one-day squad, went out on a high note with 63 runs of his side’s total of 169 for eight before taking 6-30 to help bowl Nettleham out for 108, leaving them in fifth place and only a fraction ahead of Lindum.