Close games as county league focus turns to the lower divisions
With cup games occupying teams in the Lincolnshire Premier Cricket League Premier Division, it was left to Division One South to provide the closest games of the day.
Two of the games in this division produced exciting finishes with Castor and Ailsworth v Moulton Harrox seconds marginally the tightest.
Having been invited to bat at Moulton Harrox, the visitors found the going tough, only Stuart Dockerill with 44 making a dent in the bowling.
The final wicket fell on 100 in the 32nd over, with Sam Frost taking 4-1 of eight balls to end the innings.
Moulton went out to chase a seemingly modest total but Dockerill also proved very handy with the ball, taking 7-19 off his nine overs.
Jamie Juckes hit 32 but couldn’t quite get his team over the line, the last wicket falling on 98 in only 24 overs.
Meanwhile a much higher scoring game was taking place at Burghley Park where the second XI took on Billingborough who won the toss and elected to bat.
Jacob Light made 54 and steady batting down the order took the final score to 257-7.
Burghley set off well with an first wicket stand of 92 and opener David Platt went on to make 70, with Charlie Biggs contributing 56.
When Biggs was out, the score had reached 220 for six but the introduction of Warren Nel to the bowling brought three quick dismissals and the final wicket fell on the last ball of the innings with the home side just three runs adrift on 254.
Billingborough lie second in the division with Castor & Ailsworth fourth, just 18 points separating the top four.
In the only game in Championship North, Alkborough went on a run spree at home to Lindum seconds, Callum Render hitting 126 and Sam Brown 65 in a second wicket stand of 158 which helped the final total to 320-7, the highest league score of the day.
Lindum fought hard, Ric Corbett making 58 and up-and-coming young player Sandesh Lokuge hitting an unbeaten 39 late in the innings but the final wicket fell on 207.
And a few miles away, playing in Division Three North, Barton seconds set Holton le Clay seconds a target of 295 as Oliver Mussett hit 102 off 85 balls, backed up by George Short (58), Joe Atkinson (57no) and Adam Michaels (54 not out).
Dean Cressey then took four wickets and Short three as the visitors were all out for 183, Scott Grice with an unbeaten 50.
August 8th sees the finals of the David Morris Cup at Hartsholme, featuring Uffington, Nettleham seconds and Cleethorpes thirds.
And at Sleaford on August 15th, Alford, Broughton and Orton Park will compete in the finals of the Bob Welton Cup.
The finalists in the George Marshall Cup to be held at Woodhall Spa on 22nd August are Bracebridge Heath, Woodhall Spa and Spalding, while Caythorpe, Barton and Market Rasen are the finalists in the Mike Savage Cup at Rase Park on August 29th.
All finals consist of three T20 matches, starting at 10.30am.