A resounding 150 run victory over title rivals Nettleham in Championship North of the Lincolnshire Premier Cricket League saw Messingham move into top place, 12 points ahead of their opponents.

Batting first, the home side notched up 259 thanks to half centuries from Josh Joy (51), Corey Henderson (64) and Matt Lawson (65).

Nettleham’s reply stuttered right from the start with two wickets falling for seven runs. Rob Cook and Oliver Ward took the total to 53 but from here wickets fell steadily and the visitors were all out for 109, James Taylor taking 5-22 off 10 overs.

The top of the Premier Division remains a closely fought contest, Scunthorpe, who beat Burghley Park, leading by just one point over Bourne who scored a five wicket win against Woodhall Spa while Sleaford are seven points adrift in third after beating Bracebridge Heath.

But it was the bottom of the table that saw yet more change.

Lindum travelled to Gorse Lane for a must-win game against Grantham if they were to claw their way out of the relegation zone, while Spalding took on sixth placed Grimsby at Moulton Seas End hoping to stay above the bottom two.

Rory Grieve hit his maiden half-century for Lindum and steady batting down the order saw the visitors reach 253, the last wicket falling with three balls of the innings to spare.

Sakhumuzi Ndlela made 51 for Grantham but the home side were no match for the Lindum bowlers and were all out for 117, Grieve taking two wickets for three runs in two overs and Sandesh Lokuge making his debut for the first team with two for two in 10 balls.

At Spalding, Grimsby Town were bowled out for a modest 133 in the 40th over, Barney Dring and Walter Kinlock taking three wickets each to give Spalding hope of a move up the table.

But they had reckoned without Muhammad Ayub who ripped through the top order batsmen and ended the game with 6-26 – four of them caught behind by Steve Crossley – as Spalding were all out for 80, Harrison Tice with 3-6.

This leaves Spalding in ninth place with Grantham firmly anchored at the bottom, 29 points adrift. Woodhall Spa are eigth, three points up on Spalding, with Lindum in seventh, another three points ahead.

Lindum play Spalding this weekend and Woodhall Spa take on Grantham at Jubilee Park.

In Championship South, Boston travelled to Market Deeping where they faced the might of Nottinghamshire batsman Lyndon James, who blasted 186 off 102 balls with 10 sixes and 21 fours. James was finally snared by William Tether off the bowling of Peter Moore who took four wickets as Deeping reached 425-9.

Muhammad Saleem then took 5-31 as Boston were all out for 132.

Deeping now lead Newborough by 14 points at the top of the table after the challengers lost to Skegness, despite Tom Shipman taking 5-42.

In Division One South, Market Deeping seconds were also making hay as they beat Moulton Harrox by 10 wickets with Aqeel Khan taking 7-22 off nine overs, while Long Sutton stay top after an eight wicket victory over Heckington in which Josh Baker took 6-17.