Old heads have last laugh in tense victory

Grantham 4ths 104, Boston 3rds 105-9 - Boston won by one wicket.

Boston CC Thirds recorded a nailbiting one-wicket victory against Grantham on Saturday.

Sean Barnett had to shuffle his pack after losing four regulars to the Seconds, with debutant Dave Thomas, Jack Tetther, Pete Ward and youngster Karl Loeffler called up.

After Grantham decided to bat the first wicket fell in the fourth over as Steve Appleyard removed Starbuck for a duck thanks to the reliable hands of Barnett.

His next over brought the wicket of Milne via a Liam Bent catch.

Appleyard’s third victim was Lambe, who found Barnett at cover, before he dismissed Kennedy-Short for a duck.

Dan Fox then claimed a wicket thanks to a catch from Ben Newton to dismiss Hildrith.

Kev Brooks (pictured) then sent Hackney and Singh back to the pavilion before sipper Cross became Loeffler’s first senior cricket wicket, Fox taking the catch.

Grantham put 104 runs on the board before Richard Starbuck was bowled by Barker.

With the bat, Thomas was bowled with his score on five and Barnett suffered the same fate with seven to his name.

Ben Newton joined Pete Ward at the crease before Newton was bowled for nine and Liam Bent went the same way on the same score.

Ward was run out with eight to his name and Loeffler was bowled without troubling the scorers.

With 60 needed, big swinging Wills Barker went for one and Jack Tetther’s stumps were removed for just five runs.

With 49 runs needed and only two wickets remaining Appleyard (14 not out) and Fox (31) formed a partnership before Fox was dismissed and Brooks came into bat.

The two batsmen, both in their 50s, saw Boston over the line, Brooks adding an unbeaten 10 as Boston moved up to second.