Disappointing display sees Spa lose to basement boys

Batting first under cloudy skies the Spa batting line-up failed to deliver and posted just 170-9 from their 50 overs.

A string of poor shots and wickets at regular intervals meant that despite being fairly well placed at 53-1 the innings never really got going despite another half-century from Prasanna Jayawardene.

Young Henry Wilson battled hard for his 16 runs and lower order man Ross Dixon batted very well with the tail to try and get his side to a respectable score and finished 38 not out.

Defending such a low total on another good Jubilee Park pitch was never going to be an easy task and the Spa bowlers and fielders did make life hard for the visiting batsmen.

Skipper Jack Luffman’s decision to open the bowling with the experienced Matthew Sargeant reaped its awards immediately as he accounted for opener Darke and then Australian Critchell, both for 0, to leave Louth at 16-2.

However, despite the best efforts of all the bowling attack, the next wicket wasn’t to fall until the score had reached 102 when spinner Paul Timby had Scott trapped LBW for 61.

A fightback occurred from the home side at this point and, through the returning Joe Irving (2-42), Connor Parsons (1-25) and Jaywardene (1-18) and some good catches from Alfie Lindsey and Chris Anderson, the visitors were put under increasing pressure but with just 11 balls to go they did reach their victory target to claim their first win of the season.

Spa claimed five points from the encounter and will be looking to bounce back with a positive performance at Grantham on Saturday.

l Away at Long Sutton ,the 2ndXI were convincingly beaten by nine wickets.

Batting first Pete Jackson’s side were bowled out for just 88.

Only Tom Caswell (22) and Jean-Pierre Prinsloo (21) reached double figures on their return from back and ankle injuries respectively.

In reply the home side were in no mood to hang about and crossed the winning line in just the 16th over.

Jackson switched and changed his bowlers to find a breakthrough which he himself found but with just seven runs to win for Sutton.