Grantham Cricket Club round-up as bowler Nauman Abid takes seven wickets
A superb seven-wicket haul from Nauman Abid helped Grantham to a convincing home victory on Saturday.
Abid took an impressive 7-26 as Grantham kept their Lincolnshire Premier League title hopes alive as a topsy-turvy race for honours took another twist.
Grantham were 162-run winners over Long Sutton in their match at Gorse Lane to keep their grip on fourth place in the table.
However, leaders Woodhall Spa went down to defeat at Bourne on Saturday ahead of their home match with Grantham at Jubilee Park this weekend.
That allowed Scunthorpe to move into pole position but the new leaders face a tough trip to the second-placed reigning champions Lindum this coming weekend.
Grantham go into their crunch clash on Saturday boosted by an emphatic win over bottom of the table Long Sutton.
They made 322-3 from their 50 overs after batting first with opener Aqib Afzaal scoring 104 having put on 139 runs for the first wicket with Vasanth Rajagopalan who made a half-century.
Qundeel Haider then hit 72 with Zahid Mansoor making 57 not out as Grantham set a target that was always going to be beyond their visitors.
Long Sutton were then bowled out for 160 with Abid trapping four of his seven victims leg before.
Grantham 2nds and 3rds were unable to stall the title charges of both Burghley Park teams in their South Lincs and Border League double-headers.
The seconds lost their Championship clash by 143 runs against the title favourites who made 291-8 after batting first.
Stewart Mudie claimed three wickets for Grantham who were then bowled out for 148 in reply despite Danny Ashley making 59.
The third team narrowly lost by two wickets against Burghley 2nds who were crowned champions after their victory at Gorse Lane.
Thomas Parr top-scored with 58 as Grantham were bowled out for 151 with Burghley passing the target despite Tito Thomas taking three wickets for the hosts.
Belton Park conceded their clash with Orton Park.
Ancaster's title hopes in Division One suffered a setback after they lost by eight wickets at table-topping Ketton Sports.
They were bowled out for 179 after electing to bat first with Will Harris hitting 79 in a total that was passed by their hosts inside 27 overs.
Second-placed Ancaster are now 32 points adrift of top spot with just three matches of the season remaining.
Belvoir kept up the pressure at the top of Division A of the South Nottinghamshire League with a convincing victory on Saturday.
They beat Flintham by 108 runs and remain 19 points behind league leaders Kimberley Institute 2nds with a game in hand.
Belvoir posted 235-9 from their 50 overs after batting first with Sam Penford top-scoring with 43.
Tom Neville then took 4-35 from 10 overs while Lewis Dann delivered 2-6 from just seven deliveries after Joe Bottomley had returned 2-12 from 10 overs which featured four maidens as Flintham were dismissed for 127.
The second team lost by 52 runs in their Division G match at Gedling and Sherwood 3rds.
Oliver Poole had picked up four wickets as Gedling and Sherwood were bowled out for 231 after batting first.
Opener Will Thornton was the leading run-maker in the Belvoir reply with 35 but they were bowled out for 179.
Belvoir remain in second spot in Divsion One of the Grantham and Melton Association after beating Oadby Royals by six wickets on Sunday.
Poole and Tommy Bealby led the home attack with three wickets each as the Royals were bowled out for 215.
Ben Robinson (53) and Chas Hubbard (34) started the run chase with a 74-run opening stand befoe Bealby blasted an unbeaten 64 with Ted Robson adding 43 not out to see Belvoir to victory.
Grantham were convincing 118-run winners in their Division Two tussle with Buckminster.
Stewart Mudie made 122 after hitting 17 fours and a six while Harry Green added 48 as Grantham posted 257-4 from their 40 overs.
Buckminster were bowled out for 139 in reply as Green took 3-2 from his three overs which featured two maidens.
