Drama As Firsts Tie

Needing two to win from the final delivery Woodhall Spa’s
final wicket pair of Connor Parsons and Jean-Pierre Prinsloo mustered the one
needed to tie the game against rivals Boston in the Lincs ECB Premier League
encounter.

Both teams finished 217-9 from their 50 overs and each
claimed 13 points. It was a topsy turvy affair and a game the Spa know they
should’ve won as from 140-2 with more than 18 overs to go the game was well in
control but a flow of middle-order wickets meant that the lower order of Henry
Wilson (10), Parsons (6no) and Prinsloo (2no) were left to scrap for every run
to inch closer to the winning line.

Spa’s chase had been set up well by openers Jack Luffman and
Jack Timby who put on an entertaining 82 run partnership. Timby was impressive
with an array of off and on drives while skipper Luffman showed a slight return
to form with some nice drives and pulls of his own. Timby went for 40 but
Prassana Jayawardene continued to bat alongside his captain and together they
amassed another 50 run partnership. Luffman went for a well-deserved 57.
Jayawardene continued to play with freedom but the loss of Joe Irving (10),
Chris Anderson (4)  and then himself for
a run-a-ball 61 saw the home side slip from 168-3 to 183-5 which soon became
202-8 before the final drama unfolded.

Earlier in the afternoon, the Spa bowlers and fielders
worked hard to keep Boston down to such a low score on what was a wonderful
batting surface. Indeed, earlier in the week the PCA England Masters players
had described it as a ‘proper cricket wicket’. It took a slice of luck for the
Spa to claim their first wicket via a full toss which was caught well by
Prinsloo off his own bowling but then they reduced the visitors to 81-3 and
then 141-6. A busy partnership between Sparke and Baxter followed before the
returning Irving (2-64) and Prinsloo (3-33) claimed wickets in the dying overs.
Spinners Ross Dixon (2-49) and Paul Timby (1-45) bowled 25 tidy overs between
them in the middle of the innings and Parsons claimed the crucial wicket of
former Spa player Jonny Cheer for just 15 during his good five-over spell.

Away at the Mayflower the 2ndXI endured a day to forget in
the South Lincs and Border League. On winning the toss the home side invited
Spa to bat and despite 34 from Rob Bee and 12 from Tom Siswick no other batsman
reached double figures in tricky batting conditions as the side were bowled out
for just 90.

After the tea interval and with the sun now shining batting
became a little easier and Boston passed the winning line for the loss of two
wickets. Spa did manage to get through 28 overs with young Alfie Lindsey the
pick with 2-25 from his eight.

On Sunday the Wanderers 2ndXI beat North Scarle by 21 runs.
Batting first the home side were bowled out for a good total of 202. Openers
Adam Barker (45) and Jean-Pierre Prinsloo (22) batted well and there as an
entertaining innings from Chris Anderson (19) and a quick-fire 31 from James
Harris. However, the highlight was a maiden senior 50 for uner-13 player Ollie
Caswell who showed his abilities with a patient and well played half-century.

In reply, the visitors lost wickets at regular intervals and
were bowled out for 181. John Temperton picked up 3-42 form his 10 overs and
under-13 bowlers Sam  Cooke (3-42) and
Dewi Bourke (1-41) were once again impressive particularly during the death
overs.

Away at Grimsby Town, the under-19 side played its first
game in the inaugural Lincs U/19 T20 Competition. Bowling first the boys, who
are made up of mostly under-15 and under-17 players, bowled and fielded well to
keep the home side down to 115 from their 20 overs. Off spinner Henry Wilson
picked up two wickets.

In reply Spa finished 15 runs short as the young batsmen
found the boundaries hard to come by against a Town side that included five bowlers
who have all bowled at Premier League level. Wilson again was the pick with a
retired 50 and he shared in good partnerships with Ben Troops and Tom Caswell.
The boys’ next game in the competition is against Lindum on date to be
confirmed.

Jack Timby scored 40 for the 1stXI and was in fine form with the gloves.