Winning Weekend

It was a winning weekend for Woodhall Spa Cricket Club.

On Saturday the 1stXI completed a convincing winning draw
against newly promoted Nettleham to claim 16 points and move up to tied third
in the Lincolnshire ECB Premier League.

Captain Jack Luffman won the toss and elected to bat on a
hard and flat Jubilee Park surface and would have been delighted with the 241-7
posted by his team. Despite the early loss of fellow opener Jack Timby, Luffman
(28) and Prassana Jayawardene were enjoying a fruitful and entertaining
partnership before the former was unfortunately run out. However, the arrival
of Joe Irving to the crease did nothing to suppress Spa’s batting dominance and
together with Jayawardene the pair produced a delightful 117 run partnership.
Sri Lankan Jayawardene was happy to play second fiddle to Irving, who was
playing one of the best innings seen at the ground for many a year showing off
an array of fine off and on drives. 
Jayawardene lost his wicket for a fine 55 and while it looked certain
that Irving would reach three figures he was unfortunately run out for 97 three
short of what would’ve been a well-deserved century. Spa did lose their way
somewhat at this point under some good bowling from the visitors but duo Henry
Wilson (14 not out) and Coach Paul Timby (30) made sure an imposing total was
set.

It didn’t start well for the home side in the field and
Nettleham got off to somewhat of a flyer despite an early wicket for that man
Irving. However, the introduction of spinners Ross Dixon and latterly Timby
(2-33) firstly quashed any hopes of a run chase and then pushed the home side
towards a full points victory. Leg spinner Dixon was particularly impressive
and he was well backed up the field to claim his first ever Premier League five
wicket haul finishing with 5-45 from his 16 overs. Spa threw everything at
Nettleham in order to claim that final wicket but the visitors hung on to
finish 183-9 and claim a losing draw.

Away at Belton Park the 2ndXI claimed a vital five-wicket
victory in the South Lincs and Border League.

Bowling first, the Spa was in fine form with the ball and
managed to bowl out the home side for just 137. Opening  bowlers Jack Cooke and captain Pete Jackson
put the home side under early pressure taking four quick wickets, two apiece.
Belton did stage a mini-fightback but the introduction of spinners Matthew
Haslam and Rob Bee put pay to any large total being posted. Haslam (2-20) from
his 12 overs used all of his experience and Bee claimed three wickets in his 10
over spell. All the bowlers were well backed up in the field by the young Spa
side and wicket-keeper George Lindsey was in great form behind the stumps
claiming two very good catches.

Chasing down the target was never going to be an easy task
but a crucial second wicket partnership between Bee and Tom Dixon (39) looked
to have paved the way to victory however on the latter’s dismissal two wickets
were to fall to send some nerves through the visitors’ dressing room. However,
the experienced Andy Scoley (17), playing his first game for the Club in two
years, hung around with Bee in what proved to be a match winning partnership.
Bee played responsibly to finish 53 not out and see his side home for a
well-deserved five wicket victory.

On Sunday the two Wanderers sides were in action. The 1stXI
travelled to Hartsholme in the Premier Division and claimed a first win of the
season by just one run in an enthralling encounter. The home side looked to be
cruising to the 154 winning total at 88-2 but a Spa fightback through Ross Dixon
(4-25) and Paul Timby (4-17) seemed to have derailed the hosts who were
faltering on 127-9. However, a dogged final wicket partnership looked to have
stolen the victory back but when skipper Chris Anderson introduced 15-year-old
Alfie Lindsey in the 39^th over the story soon changed as he managed
to trap Hartsholme’s Shillito LBW to bowl out the home side for 152.

Earlier in the piece Spa’s top order failed again and was
left to thank Paul Timby (33), Nathan Carter (18), Ross Dixon (47) and JP
Prinsloo (16 not out) to getting the side to a total of 153 on a difficult
surface to bat on.

This certainly wasn’t the case at home where Pete Epton’s
2ndXI came out seven wicket winners in an exciting and high scoring Division
Two encounter. Heighington were the visitors to Jubilee Park and they batted
first on what was a superb batting pitch and posted an imposing total of 239-9
from their 40 overs.  The Spa’s bowlers
worked hard throughout the afternoon with Kieran Richardson (3-26), John
Temperton (3-34) and Sam Cooke (2-25) the main wicket takers.

In reply, the home side produced a scintillating batting
performance led by openers Tom Dixon and Adam Barker. The former got off to a
flying start and passed his half-century inside 10 overs. He was to lose his
wicket for a well-played and entertaining 72 but his opening partner continued
to dominate the visiting attack and posted his maiden century for the Club.
Barker was quick to pounce on any loose deliveries and in partnership with
12-year-old Ollie Caswell (20 not out) almost took his side to victory.
Unfortunately he was to lose his wicket for a superb 107 and it was left to
skipper Epton (10 not out) to guide his side over the finishing line for an
impressive first league win of the season.

Ross Dixon took 5-45 for the 1stXI on Saturday – his first five-wicket haul in the Premier League.

Adam Barker scored his maiden century for WSCC in the Wanderers 2ndXI’s victory on Sunday.