Just two senior men’s fixtures this weekend with the Saturday 1st XI travelling to Bourne. After heavy overnight rain and due to the vagaries of the league rules, the game was initially reduced to 42 overs per side. Bourne opted to bowl first on a green pitch which appeared to offer some assistance to the bowlers in the early exchanges. Play was suspended for a further rain interruption leaving the game at 33 overs aside with DLS to come into the calculations later on. After the resumption of play Patel was out for 23 leading to a flurry of wickets that saw Sleaford slump to 67/6 and the vast congregation of away supporters were fearing the worst. However, Hibberd and Tite skilfully rebuilt the innings putting on 45 runs for the 7th wicket, with Hibberd using the pace of the bowling to his advantage, “guiding” the ball to 3rd man on numerous occasions in his 34 runs. Tite was in his element again showing some of his all-round abilities as he negotiated the rest of the innings in a purposeful knock that ensured the team batted their full 33 overs. Tite finishing undefeated for 40 in a competitive total of 161/9 which was revised to 168 once the umpires had removed their shoes and socks to aid with the necessary DLS calculations. The perfect start with the ball as Tite cleaned bowled Bentley for 0 off the 4th ball, but the catalyst was the returning Drew Harbron who ran out the dangerous Cheer with a direct hit from mid-on. From this point on it was largely one-way traffic. Cam Hall captured a brace in a penetrating spell, which led to the introduction of Harbron who took the confidence boost from his earlier run out into his bowling capturing career best figures of 6/8, demolishing the Bourne middle order in the process, giving Sleaford the win by 104 runs. Hibberd exemplary at 1st slip with 4 catches. Sleaford, continuing their rebuild after a disappointing start to the season, have now won their last 3. The team welcome Grantham to London Road in what will be a stern test following a narrow defeat in the reverse fixture.
Onto Sunday and the 1st XI visited neighbours Ancaster with a depleted team. Asked to bat first, Sleaford could only muster 107 in just 31.2 overs with only Glendinning and Hibberd offering much resistance, both scoring 35 although Hibbs got his in half the time! This was never likely to be anywhere near enough and so it proved as Ancaster’s Makwana scored an unbeaten 55 as they overhauled the target for the loss of only 4 wickets. Hibberd taking 3 wickets with 1 for Oliver Sneath.
The Women’s 1st XI travelled to Duffield who having won the toss opted to bat and scored 175/7 in their 35 overs. Isobel Creasey taking 2/47 and 1 each for Millie Townend, Eva Larter and Evie Jarvis. In reply, Anna Cooper top scored with 68 off 58 balls hitting 11 fours, Evie Jarvis the only other substantial contribution with 23 as they were dismissed for a credible 143 in 25 overs.
Results from the past week.
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | Result | |
| 2 July | Sleaford CC Under 15….128/3 | Boston CC Under 15….93/7 | Win by 35 runs | Scorecard |
| 4 July | Nettleham CC Under 15 Barracudas….52/7 | Sleaford CC Under 15….53 | Win by 10 wickets | Scorecard |
| 6 July | Bourne CC 1st XI….63 | Sleaford CC 1st XI….161/9 | Win by 104 runs | Scorecard |
| 7 July | Ancaster CC Sunday 1st XI….108/4 | Sleaford CC Sunday 1st XI….107 | Lost by 6 wickets | Scorecard |
| Sleaford CC Women’s Soft Ball….89/11 (Net 234) | Farndon CC Women’s Softball….105/4 (Net 285) | Lost by 51 runs | Scorecard | |
| Duffield CC Womens 1st XI….175/7 | Sleaford CC Womens 1st XI….143 | Lost by 32 runs | Scorecard |
Fixtures for the week ahead
| Date | Start Time | Home Team | Away Team |
| Monday 8 July | 18:00 | Woodhall Spa CC Under 13 | Sleaford CC Under 13 |
| Saturday 13 July | 11:30 | Sleaford CC 1st XI | Grantham CC 1st XI |
| 13:00 | Grantham CC 2nd XI | Sleaford CC 2nd XI | |
| Sunday 14 July | 13:00 | Sleaford CC Sunday 1st XI | Nettleham CC Sunday 1st XI |
| 13:00 | Billingborough CC Sunday 1st XI | Sleaford CC Sunday 2nd XI | |
| 15:00 | Sleaford CC Women’s Super 8’s | Cutthorpe CC Women’s Super 8’s | |
| 17:00 | Kirkby Portland CC Women’s Super 8s | Sleaford CC Women’s Super 8’s | |
| Monday 8 July | 18:00 | Woodhall Spa CC Under 13 | Sleaford CC Under 13 |
League Tables can be located via these links
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