Burghley Park travelled to Sleaford on Saturday, making two changes from last week's winning side. Caius Headley and Gareth Hook came in for Stuart Biggs and Pete Foster, the latter away for yet another stag do!

Sleaford elected to bowl, and for the second week running, Ryan Gilmour and Mike Hobbiss laid a solid foundation with a half-century opening stand. Hobbiss was the first to depart for a brisk 34 off 34 balls, finding George Woods at cover off Matt Mills' bowling. James Laud continued the momentum, forming a partnership with Gilmour that took Burghley close to the hundred mark. With the score at 97, Laud (21) pulled Sleaford's overseas and Auckland Aces captain Sean Solia straight to Drew Harbron at mid-on. Gilmour soon brought up a well-constructed fifty before the returning Sleaford skipper D. Harbron ended his innings for 57, caught at backward point by Mason Mansfield. Burghley found themselves in an excellent position at 145 for 3 with 20 overs remaining.

Olly Billington played beautifully for his 41 from 43 balls, while Ewan Williams contributed 19. Unfortunately, the rest of the Burghley batting line-up struggled, failing to reach double figures, and a promising start fizzled out, with the visitors bowled out for 210 with three overs still remaining.

As with the Burghley innings, Sleaford's openers built a half-century partnership before Caius Headley provided Burghley with their first breakthrough. Mason Mansfield was superbly caught behind by Billington off a bottom edge, and Sean Solia was dismissed, caught by Gilmour at mid-on. After Sleaford passed 100, Headley struck twice more in quick succession, trapping Tom Sanders LBW and having Adam Sutcliffe chip a full toss to Alex Ashwin at cover. With the score at 116 for 4 at the halfway mark, the game was finely balanced. However, Andy Hibbard (35*) and George Woods (49*) combined for an unbroken 96-run partnership for the fifth wicket, guiding the home side to victory with eight overs to spare.

The 1st XI return to league action next week when Scunthorpe visit the Park.

This match was sponsored by BCF Equity Partners