Lincolnshire Cricket Board ECB Premier League

Sleaford 190 all out
Skegness 191 for five
Skegness (20 points) beat Sleaford (five points) by five wickets


Sleaford had been enjoying something of a purple patch of their own when they visited the seasiders.


But that was brought to an abrupt end by the unbeaten league new boys.


Sleaford batted first and were soon in trouble with Thomas Shorthouse falling to McCall in his first over for a duck.


Adams and Gunawardena stabilised the innings with a partnership of 46, but wickets fell at regular intervals, just as batsmen had established themselves.


Only the experienced Stephen Bradford (55) offered any resistance as McCall and Co wrapped things up in the 49th over.


Indeed 'Extras' was Sleaford's second highest scorer with 30, including 23 wides.


Pick of the bowlers was Saeed Bariwala, who finished with figures of four for 36.


Although he didn't bowl due to his back injury, Afghanistan international Hamid Hassan returned to the Skegness squad and opened the batting with Bariwala.


He was back in the pavilion in the eighth over after being bowled by Gunawardena.


Six overs later he had been joined by Bariwala and Nathan Docker and Skegness were struggling on 51 for three.


They needed a strong partnership to get a grip of the match and Paul Butler and McCall duly obliged, racking up 65 runs for the fourth wicket before Butler chased a wide one from Gunawardena outside his off stump and was caught behind.


Carl Wilson carried on where he had left off the previous week with 26 from 36 balls, helping the home side to within touching distance of the total.


But when he perished in the 41st over Sean Chamberlain joined his skipper to see them home, McCall hitting the winning boundary to clinch his 50 with nearly four overs to spare.


On Saturday Skegness travel to high-riding Market Deeping, hoping to maintain the pressure on league leaders Bracebridge Heath.