Sleaford gained three points on Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League leaders Woodhall Spa by bowling Louth out for 83 and going on to win by nine wickets.
This brought the challengers 20 points while Woodhall picked up 17 in a tight finish against Skegness at Jubilee Park.
The Seasiders made 277 for six, Norman Brackley unbeaten on 88 and Peter Houghton hitting 67, but even this challenging score wasn’t didn’t deter the leaders who triumphed in the last over by just one wicket, Jonny Cheer top scoring with 110.
Bracebridge Heath picked up 18 points to stay third but, as in previous weeks, Spalding hung on to their last wicket.
Bracebridge skipper Paul Cook made the day’s top score of 117 before being run out and Hymie Bentley hit 51 as Bracebridge reached 268 for eight. But Warren Nel, who had earlier taken four wickets, continued in good batting form, scoring 85 and Mike Kearns hit 73.
Both fell to Matt Bradley who ended with five for 64 as Bracebridge fought to take the final wicket but their was also disappointment for the visitors who failed by one run to reach the 201 total they needed to gain three points for the draw.
This game was also notable for Bracebridge Heath’s achievement in not conceding any extras.
At the bottom of the table, Hartsholme moved closer to Haxey, who still have a 16 point advantage. At Ashby Avenue, Grimsby’s Steve Crossley fell just eight short of a century and Richard Genge took five wickets as the visitors’ innings ended on 265 for eight.
Tim Brown then hit 60 for the home side whose last wicket fell on 161 to give them five points from the match.
Haxey, meanwhile, picked up only one after being bowled out for 122 by Market Deeping for whom Tom Andrews took 5-45. Deeping went on to win by six wickets.
Bourne missed the chance to go above Louth after failing to reach the target of 216 for eight set by Lindum at St Giles Avenue. Saikat Sarkar made 76 for the Lincoln side, who bowled Bourne out for 135, Tom Lindsay and Stuart Turner taking four wickets each.
This moved Lindum up to fifth while only six points now separate Louth in eighth place and Spalding in 10th.