Lincolnshire Premier League: Sakhumuzi Ndlela scores 72 not out and takes 4-36 as Grantham beat leaders Bracebridge Heath

Sakhumuzi Ndlela played a starring role as Grantham claimed their fifth Lincolnshire Premier League win of the season on Saturday.

The seven-wicket victory was a first defeat for leaders Bracebridge Heath, who had won seven of their first eight games this summer.

Chasing hosts Bracebridge Heath’s 211 all out, Grantham raced home with more than 16 overs to spare to complete an emphatic win.

Ndlela finished 72 not out from just 48 balls, an innings that included six fours and six sixes. He shared an unbroken fourth-wicket stand with Qundeel Haider (47 not out) worth 113.

Opener Mohammed Saif had scored 46 off just 42 balls as Grantham wasted no time in pursuit of victory.

Earlier, Ndlela was the pick of the Grantham bowlers with figures of 4-36 while support came from Aqib Afzaal (2-36) and Madhava Yvas (2-6).

Bracebridge were indebted to 71 from opener Sam Mason but wickets fell at regular intervals.

Grantham host Grimsby Town at Gorse Lane from 11.30am this Saturday.

The 2nds also faced the leaders but they were unable to halt Championship frontrunners Newborough in the South Lincs & Border League.

Grantham started positively with Michael Greaves’ 47 backing up the efforts of openers Martin Parmley (35) and Stewart Mudie (30).

But from 95-1 they slipped to 140-6 and were never able to recover despite Toby Cullen’s 29, finishing on 183 all out in the 42nd over.

Carl Lamming (3-47) and David Cope (3-15) were the prominent bowlers for Newborough.

In reply, Jared Hackney (3-48) took two early scalps but David Cooper resisted with 45 and Tom Shipman made an unbeaten 57.

Michael Greaves took 2-26 but Newborough reached 184-5 in the 33rd over to secure a comfortable win.

In Division Two, Grantham 3rds produced a clinical performance to defeat Newborough 2nds by eight wickets.

Newborough opted to bat first but were bowled out for just 87 in 18.5 overs, their final tally representing a recovery of sorts from 60-8 at one stage.

Nilesh Prabhakaran was the most successful bowler with figures of 4-23 while Harry Field bagged 2-13.

Grantham opener Oliver Parr scored 61 not out from 61 balls to guide his team to victory, reaching 90-2 in 16.3 overs.

Billingborough opener Dylan Garfoot smashed 181 off 106 balls to set up a huge win against Boston 2nds in the South Lincs & Border League on Saturday.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Garfoot and Mikey Atkinson (44) put on 184 for the second wicket after fellow opener David Newman was dismissed one run short of a half-century. Runs were easy to find with James Zealand (41 off 27 balls), Aaron Green (23 off 17), Robert Arnold (21 off 12) and Jacob Light (33 off 17) all managing to find the boundary on multiple occasions, completing 45 overs with a mammoth 459-7 on the scoreboard.

With the ball, Billingborough were just as ruthless, Green picking up 5-20 as Boston were skittled out for 75.

South Notts League Division A leaders Belvoir defeated Wollaton by 132 runs.

Belvoir opener Jack Copley led the way with 92 while Sam Foster added 53 as they reached 287 all out, Kaif Latif taking 4-26.

In reply, Wollaton were reduced to 101-8 before some late hitting ensured they finished 155 all out. Foster was the most successful bowler with 4-57 while Joe Bottomley picked up 2-16.

The 2nds won by 30 runs against Gedling Colliery 3rds in Division G.

From 119-8, an unbeaten 38 by Jamie Flear plus 26 from Pehasara Samantha ensured Belvoir reached 191 all out in 40 overs (Ruby Neal 3-47).

Gedling made solid progress to reach 83-1 but they were undone by the bowling of Tommy Bealby and Richard Brewer. Bealby took 3-34 and Brewer returned figures of 4-41 as Gedling were restricted to 161-8 from their 40 overs.