Seconds Climb Table With Fine Team Performance

Woodhall Spa 1^st XI succumbed to a seven wicket home defeat to Grantham on Saturday in the Lincs ECB Premier League.

After winning the toss, skipper Jack Luffman elected to bat first on another good batting surface and he would have been disappointed in his side’s total for just 200, particularly after being 145-3 at one stage and after a delightful and classy hundred form Prasanna Jayawardena.

The innings started badly with both Ollie Caswell and Harsha Vithana both adjudged LBW but then 90run partnership between Henry Wilson (37) and Jaywardena ensued to put the Spa innings well back on track but when the former and the Luffman (5) lost their wickets the all too familiar batting collapse saw Spa slump to 165-8. In all of this though, the experienced Jaywardena stood firm and showed how to rotate the strike, pick the gaps and punish anything loose to post his first three figure score of the season. On his dismissal it was left to Alex King (12) and Jack Cooke (4 not out) to get their side to the 200 mark to claim four batting points.

The Spa side were determined to rectify the wrongs and claim a victory in the face of adversity however an opening stand of 126b put paid to any of those hopes. Luffman rotated his bowlers and finally the introduction of Cooke (2-17) got the breakthrough and along with some tight bowling from Vithana (1-32) the Spa did make Grantham work hard for the win, the visitors passing the wining line in the 47^th over.

Spa travel to Grimsby on Saturday looking to get back to winning ways.

Away at Grantham, the 2ndXI claimed an excellent 86 run victory to claim further up the SLBL Premier Division table. The home sad won the toss and asked Matt Sargeant’s men to bat first and they took full advantage posting a challenging 214-8 form its 45 overs.

Sargeant (30) and opening partner Sam Cherry (47) set the foundations for their side and contributions from the returning Jack Hughes (27), Alex Hodson (14), Matthew Haslam (10), James White (25), Pete Jackson (15) and young Tom Ashford (11 not out) meant that full batting points were achieved.

In reply, and despite a half century from captain Mudie, the home side were never really in the hunt in the face of some accurate and tight bowling form the Spa men. Will Sharpe (1-14), White (2-41), Alfie Lindsey (2-30) and Cherry (2-22) all played their part but the evergreen Haslam was in miserly form taking 2-7 from his eight overs reducing the home side to just 128-9 form their 45 overs.

On Sunday, Ross Dixon’s Wanderers 1stXI travelled to Ancaster in the Lincoln and District Premier Division and returned with a well-deserved victory.

Bowling first Spa restricted the home side to 149-9 with all of the attack performing well. Dixon and Dewi Bourke each took two wickets but Harsha Vithana was the star of the show taking 5-14 from his seven over spell. He was helped by two stunning catches from Ollie Caswell at long-on and Jack Luffman at deep midwicket.

In reply, Spa reached its target with more than 10 overs to go. This was mainly thanks to two fine half-centuries from opening batsman Nathan Carter and a maiden one for the club from wicket keeper Brandan Laurenzi.

Alfie Lindsey amongst the wickets in the 2ndXI's victory on Saturday.