A relatively rain free weekend for a change saw both Saturday sides in action. The 1st XI, faced Market Deeping at Outgang Road looking to turn the tables, having lost the corresponding fixture earlier in the season. Opting to bowl first the opening bowlers were put under the pump early doors as boundaries were found with relative ease, although wickets were falling on a regular basis. The late arrival of Cam Hall meant he could not bowl until late on, but when he did he made immediate inroads capturing 3/14. With the last 4 wickets falling for just 4 runs Deeping were dismissed for just 123 inside 29 overs. A wicket for Tite and 2 apiece for Peck, D Harbron and Shorthouse. The batting innings did not get off to the brightest of starts with Conor gone without scoring. With Cooper now back in New Zealand, Hibberd returned to the number 3 berth. Partnerships of 28 with both Patel and Shorthouse and then 22 with Drew saw the team well set at 88-3, but 2 wickets for no runs saw the side rocked and in an all too familiar situation. 36 runs needed, with 5 wickets remaining should not be too concerning, especially as the run rate was not an issue. And so it proved, as Cam backed up his earlier return to form with the ball and supported Hibberd who finished undefeated on 55, to see the side over the line at 126/5. If you ask Hibbs what he averages at no. 3 in his last 3 innings there, he will gladly tell you. The team move back to 3rd in the table, likely too far behind Lindum to mount a serious challenge for the title, but stranger things have happened.
A depleted 2nd XI hosted Bourne and inserted them having won the toss. At 7/2 this looked like a good decision from skipper Hutson with Dylan Chessum making the early breakthroughs. However, a 183 run partnership for the 3rd wicket put paid to any hopes Sleaford had of restricting Bourne to a manageable total. Giles then struck twice in quick succession, but the dangerous Woodward was still at the crease and he went to his hundred with consecutive 6’s, carrying his bat for an impressive 133 not out in a total of 265/5. With a number of key batters not available, this was likely to be far too many to chase and so it proved. The top 3 were back in the hutch with just 18 on the board. Glendinning and Henderson started to repair the damage, but with the run rate now escalating rapidly, it looked likely the only aim was to gather as many batting bonus points as they could. Glendinning batted well for his 30 before he was barbecued by Tom Brooke in attempting a risky single, finishing some way short of his ground. Brooke himself entertained the crowd on his solo appearance of the year with a well struck 36. There was little else to cheer as the innings petered out at 127, defeated by 138 runs.
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Onto Sunday and the 1st XI welcomed Owmby to London Road. Skipper Drew lost the toss and asked to bat he took on the mantle of opener alongside brother Conor. The run rate in the first 10 overs was electric, Conor falling for 49 after failing to negotiate a straight one. Thomas Stephan also fell just shy of a 50 with 47 and that sparked a collapse of 6 wickets for 11 runs. Fortunately, old head Hibberd was still at the crease and joined by Roberts started to rebuild the innings. Roberts made 34 in quick time before he was out and then Hibberd took over the reins, hitting some big blows into Aldi car park. He was last man out for 35 and the innings finished on 198. A reasonable total to bowl at, but some way short of expectations considering the start. As is his right as captain, Drew took the new ball alongside Tite. Scott picked up an early wicket and Drew took 3 to leave Owmby 52/4. A mini rebuild saw the total to 88 as Chessum was introduced to the attack. The second batting collapse of the day followed, but even more dramatically as Owmby went from 4 down to all out in the blink of an eye, as 6 wickets fell in 14 deliveries for 1 run. All-rounder Hibberd took 2 but star of the show was Dylan with 4/7 sealing victory by 109 runs.
Highlights from this game will be uploaded to the clubs YouTube channel later in the week. Click here to subscribe and turn on notifications.
And finally, the Womens 1st XI entertained Keyworth, hosted by our friends at Heckington CC. Asked to bat, Olivia Cepelak found the bowling to her liking as she compiled a run a ball 82 in the total of 172/7 from the allotted 35 overs. Emily Hill was the next highest contributor with 23, in a 102 run partnership with Olivia. Keyworth struggled with the bat in the face of some tight Sleaford bowling. They managed just 66/7 from 35 overs of which extras top scored with 28! Millie Townend leading the attack with 3/7, 2 wickets for Isabel Creasey and 1 each for Evie Jarvis and Olivia.
Summary of all Sleaford CC results from the past week
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | Result |
| 12 August | Market Deeping CC 1st XI….123 | Sleaford CC 1st XI….126/5 | Won by 5 wickets Scorecard |
| Sleaford CC 2nd XI….127 | Bourne CC 2nd XI….265/5 | Lost by 138 runs Scorecard | |
| 13 August | Sleaford CC Sunday 1st XI….198 | Owmby CC Sunday XI….89 | Won by 109 runs Scorecard |
| Sleaford CC Womens 1st XI….172/7 | Keyworth CC Womens 2nd XI….66/7 | Won by 106 runs Scorecard | |
| Lindum CC Under 10….65/8 (Net Score 201) | Sleaford CC Under 10….148/2 (Net Score 332) | Won by 131 runs Scorecard |
This week’s fixtures
| Date | Start Time | Home Team | Away Team |
| Monday 14 August | 18:00 | Nettleham CC Under 13 | Sleaford CC Under 13 |
| Saturday 19 August | 11:30 | Sleaford CC 1st XI | Grimsby Town CC 1st XI |
| 13:00 | Newborough CC 1st XI | Sleaford CC 2nd XI | |
| Sunday 20 August | 13:00 | Nettleham Sunday 1st XI | Sleaford CC Sunday 1st XI |
| 13:00 | Sleaford CC Sunday 2nd XI* | Old Lincolnians CC 1st XI | |
| 13:00 | Sleaford CC Womens 1st XI | Hartsholme CC Womens 1st XI |