Why the future is bright at Sleaford Cricket Club despite heavy opening day defeat

Andy Hibberd believes Sleaford have a bright future when their young players come of age.

Sleaford were beaten by nine wickets against Bourne after they were bowled out for just 107 inside 33 overs.

They were being forced to field a youthful and inexperienced side, with 31-year-old Hibberd being the oldest player.

And Hibberd. who scored 12 in the defeat at number four, believes the loss would add valuable experience to the team’s young guns.

“We have not been able to bring in overseas players this year, so we have had two spaces in the line-up to fill,” he said.

“We brought in our better younger players, the quality might not be the same but we will stick with it.

“The average age of the team is around 22. We had an U15 and four U19 players in the team.

“That in itself is a positive because it is giving them exposure at this level, but equally it is a negative as well in that there is going to be naivety there, but it will pay off in a couple of years.

“We have made the mistake before of not giving kids exposure at this level until they are older.

“It’s good to get the hard yards in when they are younger and it will pay dividends in the years ahead. It is a long term thing.”

Sleaford got off to a steady enough start before the first wicket fell at 32/1 when Aayush Patel was dismissed for 9.

Wickets fell steadily from that point on with Sleaford finding themselves in a hole at 78/5.

And their innings ended in fitting style when Scott Tite was trapped LBW first ball by Robert Bentley.

Bourne knocked off the lowly total with ease as they reached 101 before Shorthouse picked up the first wicket when Sam Evison was dismissed.

Jordan Temple reached 46 not out as he guided Bourne home with Jack Berry.

The league has a new format of regionalised 40-over games played in leagues with a play off at the end of the season.

Results: Sleaford 107, Bourne 110-1; Market Deeping 121, Lindum 122-3; Louth 218-6 (Bell 88), cunthorpe Town 175 (White 5-20); Woodhall Spa 151-9 (Timby 73), Boston 64-3 – rain; Grantham 197-8, Boston 58-2 – rain.