Cricket: Christmas rescues Bourne
BOURNE remain top of the ECB Lincolnshire Premier Division thanks to a thrilling late stand from David Christmas and Tom Lindley on Saturday.
Louth had beaten title-chasers Bracebridge Heath and Skegness in recent weeks and looked set to claim an impressive hat-trick of scalps when reducing Bourne to 144-8 at the Abbey Lawn.
Louth had earlier scored 185, one of the better scores at the Lawn this summer, but Christmas and Lindley held their nerve for an unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 55 to push Bourne past their target.
Christmas, surely the best number eight in the league, finished unbeaten on 34 of 45 balls with an innings that included three fours and a six while Lindley finished 15 n.o.
Lindley also bagged a couple of wickets, the same number as professional Fahad Masood.
Slow left-armer Cliff Spinks chipped in with three late wickets to keep Louth down to a manageable total before Bourne began their reply.
Bourne were given a boost by neighbours Market Deeping who managed to secure a draw at Nettleham, the team in second.
Deeping's bowlers have not had the best of times this season but were unfortunate not to get an early break when seamer Tom Andrews and the rest of the Deeping team thought they had trapped Nettleham's Warren Nel lbw from the second ball of the match.
The umpire disagreed and Nel, the division's top scorer, took full advantage of his reprieve to bash an undefeated 136. He put on 206 for the first wicket with fellow centurian Matt O'Halloran.
The late introduction of Alistair Sharp did check Nettleham's progress and they eventually closed on 275-4 from their 50 overs. Sharp claimed all four wickets to fall.
Deeping rarely looked like winning but did ease to a draw at 207-8. Jamie Morgan top-scored with 43, while David Gillett added 38.
So a good day all-round for Bourne, although they will be wary of the team now chasing them in third place.
Perennial champions Bracebridge Heath appear to have rediscovered their best form, with a demolition of Skegness at the weekend.
Aaron Keverne Onyon and Brett Houston each took five wickets as the seasiders were bowled out for 67 in less than 30 overs, a total Bracebridge overtook for the loss of two wickets.
Bourne play Skegness tomorrow while Market Deeping make the trip to Lindum.
Elsewhere Sleaford beat Woodhall Spa, Lindum beat Grimsby and at the foot of the table, Boston won the battle of the bottom two against Hartsholme.
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Weather for Bourne
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
