South Lincs and Border League cricket round-up

Long Suton won an exciting run chase to further strengthen their title hopes in the South Lincs & Border League Championship on Saturday.

The league leaders defeated derby rivals Moulton Harrox by four wickets at Paradise Field to move 44 points clear at the top with just five matches of the campaign remaining.

Moulton had made a healthy 245-8 after being put into bat with Josh Newton - the division's leading run scorer - heading their charge.

Newton made 106 while opener Matt Barnett added 62 with both Josh Baker and Jake Burton taking three wickets apiece for the hosts.

Matt Rose made a couple of early breakthroughs in the Sutton reply but Dan Oldfield hit 34 before Tim Norris and Paul Edgeller steered the home side to the brink of victory.

Norris scored 72 and Edgeller added 62 before Barry Stanway struck an unbeaten 15 to secure a vital victory against their fourth-placed visitors.

Although third-placed Newborough were two-wicket winners over Freiston, Sutton's position at the top was strengthened by closest challengers Skegness conceding their match at Woodhall.

Bourne 2nds boosted their hopes of escaping the bottom two with an emphatic 138-run win at Sleaford.

Skipper Ben Woodward smashed 14 fours and four sixes as he carried his bat for an unbeaten 133 while Kurt Storey struck 80 to help Bourne post 265-5.

Adam Hilless then took 3-26 as Sleaford were bowled out for 127 in reply.

Market Deeping 2nds' match at Boston was abandoned with the hosts on 196-3. Aurangzaib Tahir had taken 2-39 from his eight overs.

Billingborough and Burghley Park are both battling it out for honours in Division One.

Billingborough were seven-wicket winners on Saturday in their home match with Grantham 3rds who were dismissed for 128.

Burghley beat Moulton Harrox 2nds by five wickets after their hosts were bowled out for 100.

Joe Broomfield top-scored with 26 while Harry Lovell took a couple of wickets before Burghley triumphed inside 18 overs.

Long Sutton 2nds were beaten in a low-scoring Division Two tussle at Royal Boston.

Aaron John had taken 4-21 and Rob Simpson claimed 3-18 as Sutton dismissed their hosts for 112.

However, they could only make 88 in reply with opener John top-scoring with 43 and Steve Norris adding 20.