Final weekend of the Lincolnshire Premier League cricket season
Spalding escaped a bottom two finish with victory in the final game of the Lincolnshire Premier League season on Saturday.
They beat relegated rivals Long Sutton by 34 runs at Seas End Hall to leapfrog Nettleham in the standings after the Lincoln side lost heavily at third-placed Woodhall Spa.
Spalding had been bowled out for 188 after being put into bat with runs at the tail end of the order from Ethan Lawrence (32) and Brandon Andrews (38no) proving crucial.
Jake Burton was the pick of the Long Sutton attack with 3-13 from 10 overs which included five maidens.
Davico Kruger top-scored with 59 in the Long Sutton reply while Burton added 27 but they were bowled out for 154.
Nilantha Atapattu and Harsh Bhandari took 3-28 and 3-22 respectively while Andrews completed a fine personal performance with 2-4 from his four overs.
Bourne lost a high-scoring clash with Grantham who clinched victory with just five balls to spare.
The visitors had made 309-4 after electing to bat first and overcoming a sticky start where they found themselves 15-2.
A 119-run stand between Jonny Cheer (57) and Dan Freeman (90) brought Bourne back into the game.
Freeman was then joined by Carl Wilson (82no) in a century partnership which propelled them past the 200-run mark.
Rob Dunn continued to add to the total with 39 not out in an unbeaten stand of 75 with Wilson who was playing against his former club.
Three wickets from Corey Young soon had Grantham in trouble at 53-3 but, while Bourne continued to dismiss batsmen at one end, Zahid Mansoor was racking up the runs at the other.
He smashed 20 boundaries in his 161 not out off just 133 deliveries as Grantham triumphed in the final over of the game despite Young finishing with 5-53.
Bourne ended the campaign in sixth spot which was two places above Market Deeping who lost their final game by eight wickets at Sleaford.
Deeping had been dismissed for 119 after deciding to bat first with tail-ender Marcus Telford unbeaten on 17 at the close.
Sleaford took less than 19 overs to pass the target as Sam Moorby made an unbeaten 62 for the hosts in a comfortable win.
