After the euphoria of the mammoth run chase the previous weekend, the 1st XI travelled to Lindum. Asked to bowl first having lost the toss, Sleaford’s opening bowlers set about the task in hand with a couple of early wickets for Tite. Restricting our opponents to a below par 194/8 with 3 victims for Cooper appeared to be job done at the halfway point. Openers Patel and Conor Harbron set about the task, putting on 36 for the 1st wicket before Harbron was caught at mid-wicket for 21. Patel fell next for a well crafted 33 before he was caught at mid-off. Cooper had got into his stride at this stage and looked set to carry Sleaford over the winning line. Shorthouse came and went, being caught in the covers, leaving Sleaford requiring 98 runs with 7 wickets in hand. Hibberd joined Cooper and the run chase was back on track as a 49 run partnership was compiled, before Hibberd swiped across the line and was stumped. At this stage Cooper had reached his 50 and it seemed logical that someone needed just to bat with him and see the team to the total. With lots of depth in the batting line-up the casual observer could be excused for believing this to be an easy task. What actually followed was a collapse of catastrophic proportions with none of the batters prepared to occupy the crease and all getting themselves out. The team went from 164/5 from 32.3 overs to 186 all out in 38.2. Five wickets lost in 5.5 overs for 22 runs beggars belief, with Cooper left stranded for an undefeated 83. We can but hope the team take this loss to heart and start to rebuild their season after a promising start to the campaign.
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The 2nd XI faired no better as they hosted Newborough. Asked to bat they were soon in trouble as 3 wickets fell before the total had reached double figures. A mini rebuild saw the total reach 54, but this was a false dawn and the side managed a miserable 110 all out, Roberts top scoring with 26. Newborough made light work of the chase losing just 3 wickets as they knocked the runs off inside 25 overs.
Hoping for better things on Sunday, the 2s welcomed Aisthorpe to London Road. Opting to bat, Ian Glendinning and Tom Sanders opened up and compiled a watchful partnership of 76 before Sanders was out for 41. The tempo increased as George Hix came in. Glendinning reached his 50 but was out soon after. Some quick hitting from the Glendinning brothers and Mark Tanner in support of Hix took the total to 193/4 from their 40 overs. George going onto register his maiden club half century as he stroked eights 4’s in his undefeated 53. With Ben Glendinning leading the attack, Aisthorpe were soon in trouble at 32/5, although a solid 6th wicket partnership was being built. A lengthy rain break was followed by another 3 quick wickets before the heavens opened again to bring the proceedings to an abrupt end with Aisthorpe struggling at 93/8. Ben claiming his first 5 wicket haul for Sleaford with impressive figures of 5/33.
And finally, the Women’s 1st XI faced Duffield. Opting to field, Sleaford captured 2 wickets without a run on the board. However, Duffield’s middle order responded in aggressive fashion, racking up an imposing 159/6 from their 35 overs. Holly Vaughan was the pick of the bowlers with 3/21. In response, Sleaford too lost early wickets and with rain interrupting proceedings, were asked to chase a revised target of 78 from just 17 overs. This proved slightly too much of an ask, despite a quick fire 23 off 19 deliveries from Olivia Cepelak. The Sleaford innings closed on 67/4.
Junior Cricket
Sleaford U15s unbeaten start to the league campaign ended with a 10 run defeat in a fantastic game away vs County Cup finalists, Woodhall Spa, on a warm Monday evening. Having lost the toss, Sleaford were asked to bowl first on an excellent Woodhall wicket. Woodhall’s opening batsmen got off to a flying start, putting the bad ball away to the boundary along with some good running and taking advantage of Sleaford’s slack fielding. Sleaford’s poor start in the field continued with a couple of dropped catches and it was clear Sleaford needed to quickly up their game. Change bowlers of Tom Sanders (a miserly 0-9 from 3 overs) and Oscar Lond (3-20) slowed the run rate with Oscar removing both Woodhall openers in quick succession. A stern team talk by stand in captain Dylan Chessum following the loss of Woodhalls first wicket had the desired effect with the fielding much improved. The excellent pair of Olivia Cepelak (3-16) and Josh Nel (1-6) continued to stall Woodhall’s progress until two huge sixes in the final over saw Woodhall’s innings close on 132-7. It was clear the majority of the considerable number of spectators felt Woodhall’s total was enough to win the game comfortably when facing Woodhall’s strong bowling line up. Sleaford started positively until a rash shot by opener Tom Sanders (7) saw his middle stump cartwheel out of the ground. Charlie Hall came and went quickly leaving Sleaford 22-2 inside 4 overs. Dylan Chessum (34) joined George Hix (35 retired not out) at the crease and for the 2ndgame running, Dylan was instrumental in rebuilding the innings. With George Hix looking in sublime form with some crunching shots through the covers and down the ground, their 67 run partnership put Sleaford in the driving seat and a close finish looked on the cards. However, Sleaford’s momentum was halted as Dan Adams and Freddie Foran both went without scoring. Needing 17 from the final over, a tall ask looked a little easier as Josh Nel (14) crashed the first ball through the covers for 4. However, Sleaford managed just 3 more runs from the final 5 balls to finish 10 runs short of their target. The U15s will being looking to return to winning ways in their next match at home on Monday 26th June vs Boston.
Summary of all Sleaford CC results from the past week
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | Result |
| 12 June | Woodhall Spa CC Under 15 132/7 | Sleaford CC Under 15 122/7 | Loss by 10 runs Scorecard |
| 13 June | Caythorpe CC, Lincs Under 13 B 73/8 | Sleaford CC Under 13 142/1 | Win by 69 runs Scorecard |
| 17 June | Lindum CC 1st XI 194/8 | Sleaford CC 1st XI 186 | Loss by 8 runs Scorecard |
| Sleaford CC 2nd XI 110 | Newborough CC, Hunts 1st XI 111/3 | Loss by 7 wickets Scorecard | |
| 18 June | Welton & Dunholme CC Under 10 49/13 (Net Score 145) | Sleaford CC Under 10 168/3 (Net Score 344) | Win by 199 runs Scorecard |
| Sleaford CC Sunday 2nd XI 193/4 | Aisthorpe CC 1st XI 93/8 | Abandoned Scorecard | |
| Duffield CC Women’s 1st XI 159/6 | Sleaford CC Women’s 1st XI 67/4 (Revised target 78 DLS) | Loss by 10 runs Scorecard |
This week’s fixtures
| Date | Start Time | Home Team | Away Team |
| Tuesday 20 June | 18:00 | Sleaford CC Under 13 | Woodhall Spa CC Under 13 |
| Wednesday 21 June | 18:00 | Boston CC Under 11 | Sleaford CC Under 11 |
| Thursday 22 June | 18:00 | Woodhall Spa CC Under 13 | Sleaford CC Under 13 |
| Saturday 24 June | 11:30 | Nettleham CC 1st XI | Sleaford CC 1st XI |
| 13:00 | Bourne CC, Lincs 2nd XI | Sleaford CC 2nd XI | |
| Sunday 25 June | 10:15 | Sleaford CC Under 10 | Caythorpe CC, Lincs Under 10 |
| 13:00 | Sleaford CC Sunday 1st XI | Grantham CC Sunday 1st XI |
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