In what is proving to be a very difficult season for the team, they fell to another defeat but did at least have the consolation of knowing that for awhile they had the visitors in some trouble.

Bourne won the toss and elected to field against a Sleaford side struggling for form.

In the face of some useful bowling, the home side found it heavy going at the crease and could only reach 152 for 9 off their allotted 50 overs. Opener Richard Tomlin showed plenty of defiance in a steady innings of 36 to top score for Sleaford and Edwardson contributed 23.

Bourne's best bowler was Charlie Hopkins, who finished with figures of 3-46 off 14 overs.

It seemed a relatively straightforward target for Bourne, but the home attack soon had them in a little disarray, quickly taking the wickets of Smith and Fotheringham as the visitors were reduced to 9-2.

With Hollingworth (3-57) and Burrows (2-27) bowling well, Sleaford collected two more cheap wickets to have the visitors struggling at 50-4.

But the arrival of former county player David Christmas to the centre was to change the game. Sadly for Sleaford he was dropped by Hollingworth early in his innings and went on to make an unbeaten 68 to lead his side to a four wicket victory.



*Woodhall Spa kept up their challenge at the top of the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League table, inflicting the first defeat of 2008 on leaders Bracebridge Heath in a high scoring game at Cross O'Cliff Court.

This had been billed as the match of the season and the two teams didn't disappoint, Mark Fell hitting his fourth century of 2008, sharing a third wicket partnership of 115 with Vikram Atri (58) and helping his side to 260 for seven at the close. Fell's 124 came off 150 balls and included nine fours and five sixes.

But Woodhall were at full strength and Northampton player Andrew Crook eclipsed Fell with an unbeaten 143, ably supported by Conrad Louth with 81. This partnership put on 204 for Woodhall's second wicket and Crook's total was scored off 122 balls with 18 fours and two sixes as he took his side to a seven wicket win with seven overs to spare.

This result closes the gap at the top of the table but Woodhall still have a lot of work to do if they are to catch the five times champions.