Only pride to play for now as Spa fall short of the target
WOODHALL Spa slipped further off the pace in the race for the Lincolnshire Cricket Board’s Premier League title after suffering a losing draw at Bourne last Saturday.
Bourne batted first and impressive hitting from fifth wicket pair Conrad Louth and David Christmas helped them to a total of 239-5 from their 50 overs.
Woodhall made a brave effort to chase down the runs with Ricky Lovelace, Sam Evison, Dan Hegarty and Dan Milgate all making useful scores but they eventually closed on 218-8, 22 runs short of their target.
Bourne picked up seven points and Woodhall’s tally left them in a solid if frustrating mid-table position, well adrift of the battle for the title.
It could have been so different after some fine bowling reduced Bourne to 61-4 on what appeared to be a good batting track.
Australian ace Ben O’Brien ripped out home skipper Peter Morgan and the dangerous Tom Dixon while Connor Parsons and Milgate also picked up a scalp apiece.
Another couple of wickets really would have broken the back of the innings but instead, Louth and Christmas teamed up in what proved to be a match-deciding partnership.
Louth posted an unbeaten 100 off 137 deliveries with nine fours and two sixes while Christmas hammered 97 off 106 balls with a six and 12 fours.
Woodhall used four bowlers but they were unable to stem the flow of runs as the fifth wicket pair produced a stand of 178.
Skipper Jack Luffman (6) was an early casualty in Woodhall’s reply but Lovelace (35) and Evison (41) dragged their side back into it.
Woodhall needed someone to go on and make a big score but O’Brien fell for 12 while Hegarty (40 not out) and Milgate (40) at least kept the contest alive.
Eventually, the target proved just too much for Woodhall with Darren Cousins (4-71) the pick of the Bourne attack.
The result leaves Woodhall with plenty of pride to play for over the closing games but at least they can have a major say in the outcome of the title battle.
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Weather for Horncastle
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
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