Caistor currently sits on 20 points, with only Haxey beneath them on 10 points and with three matches to go Bracebridge and Woodhall top the table with 100 points apiece.

Sleaford went into the game a place above Caistor and although Caistor's hopes of getting above Sleaford now appear to have bitten the dust, it was a close run thing.

Caistor took first strike and put together a useful 196 for 8 when their overs had run out. Marc Wakins top scored with 61, well supported by Peter Briggs with 42, and Paul Dimbleby who hit an unbeaten 36 late in the innings. County veteran Steve Bradford took 3 for 53 for the home side but it was Nell who took the honours with 5 for 58.

Sleaford had to fight every inch of the way to get the runs against some tight Caistor bowling.

They managed to reach their target on 198 for 8 in the 40th over with Nel completing a fine all round match by hitting 79, well supported by Bradford with 25 not out and Edwardson with 30. Watkins also had a good all round game returning figures of 4 for 71, Andy Foster had 2 for 36 and Paul Dimbleby 2 for 44. Of the 16 wickets to fall in the game the unusually high total of seven were adjudged lbw by the umpires.

l Caistor 2nds with relegation worries went down in Lincolnshire League Division 1 to Messingham 2nds. Messingham 2nds hit 189 for nine (Boswell 51) with Ernie Allison recording 5 for 49 for Caistor. His efforts proved to be in vain however as Caistor could only reply with 117, Dalton in the Messingham attack being the main threat with 5 for30.

l In Division 3 there was a big defeat for Caistor 3rds. Louth 2nds hit a hugely impressive 254 for five (Ahmed 79, Searle 58) while Caistor Town 3rds were then dismissed for a paltry 21 (Chodem 5-16). Cleethorpes 4ths hit 179 to defeat Keelby 2nds who were all out for 93 in reply.

This week: Caiistor 1st v Lincoln Lindum, home at noon; 2nd v Holton le Clay, away and 3rd v Outcasts 2nd, away.