Ancaster Cricket Club are setting the pace in the South Lincs and Border League
Ancaster's dominance was on full display as they secured a resounding 10-wicket victory over Spalding 2nds in the South Lincs and Border League on Saturday.
Spalding won the toss in the Division One clash and elected to bat on what appeared to be a perfect track.
The visitors began strongly with Michael Kearns and Yavi Ranaut both getting good starts.
However, Ancaster's bowling attack demonstrated their depth and talent, restricting Spalding from 40-0 after 10 overs to 119-8 by the end of their 45 overs.
The wickets were shared among the bowlers, but the stand-out performer was Liam Probert who took three wickets for just seven runs from his seven overs.
Ancaster's response was swift and decisive.
Despite carrying an injury, opener Anthony Richardson decided to target the short leg-side boundary at every opportunity.
He smashed nine sixes and five fours on his way to an unbeaten century, finishing on 102, as Ancaster completed the chase in just the 18th over, showcasing their batting prowess.
With Woodhall Spa 2nds having no game last Saturday, Ancaster capitalised on the opportunity to climb to the top of the table with this comprehensive victory.
The Sunday side are also flying high in the Lincoln League Premier Division after a 19-run win over Lindum in a thrilling match.
Captain Richardson won the toss and chose to bat under the 22-degree heat.
However, the decision seemed questionable as the opener fell in the first over and Ashley soon followed for a duck.
G. King and Lyon then offered some resistance with King scoring 20 before being caught, and Lyon making a solid 28 before also being dismissed.
The middle order struggled with Attewell being the only other batter to reach double figures as Ancaster was eventually bowled out for a modest 100 runs.
Despite the low total, undefeated Ancaster - vying for their first-ever Sunday Premier Division title - showed tremendous spirit.
Opening bowler Probert epitomised determination, bowling uphill in the scorching heat and taking four wickets for just 11 runs in his 10 overs.
At 43-4, Lindum needed just one substantial innings to steer the game in their favour.
Overseas import Eddy seemed poised to deliver, hitting two massive sixes off Patel, however, the Ancaster spinner won the crucial battle, trapping the dangerous batter leg before for 13.
From there, Lindum's chase faltered. Wickets fell regularly and, despite the low target, the batters struggled against the relentless pace attack from A. King and skipper Richardson who both efficiently dismantled the Lindum tail, sealing an unlikely victory by bowling out the visitors for 81.
Ancaster’s Sunday side remain second in the league, just behind leaders Sleaford.
Atiq Bhatti blasted a quick-fire century as Grantham moved to the top of the Lincolnshire Premier League on Saturday.
Bhatti plundered 12 fours and 11 sixes in his 94-ball innings of 136 as Grantham swept to a convincing victory over Long Sutton.
The Pakistani ace's knock helped Grantham rack up 325-6 from their 50 overs against their newly-promoted hosts.
Fellow opener Aqib Afzaal added 37 in a first wicket stand of 175 while Zahid Mansoor managed 47 with Ahmed Raza unbeaten on 30 at the close.
Long Sutton were then bowled out for 151 in reply as Faizan Minhas led the Grantham attack with 3-33 from nine overs.
It secured a sixth win of the season for Grantham and maximum points which moved them above Woodhall Spa ahead of Saturday's table-topping tussle between the two sides at Gorse Lane.
Grantham's third team recorded a convincing 158-run win over Belton Park in Division Two of the South Lincs and Border League.
Danny Ashley smashed 15 boundaries in his 120 while Luke Kennedy-Short struck 36 as Grantham totalled 202-6 from 45 overs.
Belton were then blitzed for 44 in reply with Richard Brewer and Michael Paige their only players to reach double figures.
Ram Mangineni was the star of the Grantham attack with 5-3 from five overs while Olly Rose returned 3-13.
Alex McNulty carried his bat throughout the 50 overs of Belvoir's crushing win over Radcliffe-on-Trent in the South Nottinghamshire League.
McNulty hit an unbeaten 120 not out as Belvoir breezed to a 225-run victory in the Division A match at Knipton.
He shared in a 135-run opening partnership with Scott Nicholson who made 60 while Demetri Lucas added 33 and Tom Neville 38 as Belvoir made 301-3.
The visitors were then bowled out for 76 as Daniel Gibson took 4-29 while Tom Lindsay, Lucas and Joe Bottomley all bagged a brace each.
The second team suffered a heavy nine-wicket loss at Beeston & Toton Sycamore in Division G after being bowled out for 59.
Phil Irvine was their top scorer with 21 while Tom Thornton took the only wicket to fall as Beeston & Toton Sycamore secured the win inside 15 overs.
