It was a busy weekend for Sleaford Cricket Club, with four senior sides in action across Saturday and Sunday and plenty of notable performances to take from a mixed set of results.
Saturday 2nd XI: Battling chase falls short against Grantham
The weekend began at London Road, where the 2nd XI hosted Grantham 2nd XI in the Lincolnshire Premier Cricket League Championship South. After winning the toss and electing to field, Sleaford were made to work hard by a strong Grantham opening partnership. Ram Pandey scored 78 and Stewart Mudie made 95 as the visitors posted 227 all out from 49.4 overs.
There was plenty of fight in the Sleaford bowling effort, particularly late in the innings, with George Bulmer taking 3 for 45 and Kieran Harbron claiming 2 for 41. In reply, Sleaford slipped to 60 for 4 before Mackenzie Ross and Harvey Barton rebuilt things with a valuable fifth-wicket stand. Ross made 41 and Barton 45, but the home side ultimately finished on 202 for 9, 25 runs short.
Sunday 1st XI: Ross and Lambert lead the way
Sunday brought the standout result of the weekend as Sleaford Sunday 1st XI beat North Scarle by seven wickets. North Scarle chose to bat first but were bowled out for 128 in 32.2 overs, with Ben Lambert leading the way with 4 for 26. Mackenzie Ross took 2 for 16, Andy Hibberd also picked up two wickets, and Sleaford kept firm control of the innings.
Ross then completed an excellent all-round performance with an unbeaten 65 in the chase. He was well supported by Lambert, who added 30, as Sleaford reached 129 for 3 in 26.2 overs to secure a confident and well-earned victory.
Sunday 2nd XI: Bulmer and Hutton shine at Owmby
The Sunday 2nd XI were also in action, travelling to Owmby Trojans in Division 2 of the Lincoln & District League. Sleaford chose to bat but found themselves in trouble at 8 for 3 before Ben Baxter and captain Ben Bulmer helped repair the innings. Baxter made 22, while Bulmer played the key knock with 59 from 64 balls, including 11 fours, as Sleaford reached 145 all out.
Sleaford gave themselves a chance with the ball, thanks largely to Caleb Hutton’s excellent 4 for 24. Owmby were reduced to 67 for 6, but Harry Brindle’s unbeaten 56 saw the home side recover and reach 146 for 6 to win by four wickets.
Women’s 1st XI: Naylor leads strong batting effort at Belvoir
Sleaford Women’s 1st XI rounded off the weekend away at Belvoir. Batting first, Sleaford put together a competitive 207 for 9, built around an excellent 73 from Libby Naylor. Alexia Page-Graves added 39 and captain Evie Jarvis made 34 to give the side a strong total to defend.
Belvoir chased well in response, helped by 75 from Emelia Sergeant and an unbeaten 74 from Gabby Griffiths. Although Millie Townend, Leah Wilkinson and Liv Cepelak all took wickets for Sleaford, Belvoir reached 208 for 4 in 32 overs to win by six wickets.
Across the weekend there were positives throughout the club: a composed Sunday 1st XI win, valuable runs from Ross, Barton, Bulmer, Naylor, Page-Graves and Jarvis, and strong bowling returns from Lambert, Hutton, George Bulmer and the Harbron brothers. Results may have been mixed, but the performances gave Sleaford plenty to build on heading into the next round of fixtures.
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