The Lincolnshire Premier League cricket season starts this weekend

Long Sutton face a baptism of fire on their return to the Lincolnshire Premier League on Saturday.

Sutton were promoted last season after winning the South Lincs and Border League Premier Division title.

And they face another of last season's champions in their opening game when they travel to reigning Premier League title holders Lindum on Saturday.

Sutton have strengthened their playing ranks for the higher level test by signing West Indian Rasheed Eddy.

Eddy arrives from St Kitts and is a hard-hitting bowling all-rounder who has represented the national side while also training around the Leeward Islands squad with aspirations there also.

He has spent time in South Africa working on taking his game to the next level and will be a welcome addition to Sutton's ranks along with talented Leicestershire Academy youngster James Laud.

Sutton started their preparations for the new campaign with an 81-run defeat in a friendly at Burghley Park on Saturday.

Their hosts made 257-7 after batting first with Paul Edgeller taking 3-43 for Long Sutton who were bowled out for 176 in reply. Ollie Billington top-scored with 62 while opener Laud hit 30.

Spalding start their season on Saturday with a home match against Woodhall Spa after finishing in eighth place last term.

They have signed Keyan Grace, a top order right hand batsman with an ability to bowl seam as well.

The South African has previously played for Eaton Socon in the Cambridgeshire League

Bourne had a modest season by their own high standards last summer as their bid for a hat-trick of titles petered out into a fourth-placed finish.

They have a similar squad for 2024 but with the addition of experienced Lincolnshire Minor Counties all-rounder Dan Freeman.

Bourne open their season at Sleaford who finished second last year.

Steady improvement is the aim of Market Deeping who host Scunthorpe with their first target being to improve on last season's creditable fifth-place finish.

The continued presence of star all-rounder Hayatullah Niazi – the leading wicket-taker in the competition for the last two seasons – should ensure Deeping are competitive and the expected arrival of an overseas player could even make them challengers for the top three.

"Challenging at the top of the table is always a goal,” James Hook, who will skipper the side for a fifth season, said: “But improving on last season is the main aim.

"We hope to have an overseas player as well, but that is visa dependent right now.

"Matt Mills could be one to watch for us this summer. He bowled incredibly well last season, but didn’t get the luck he deserved.

"He’s had a season in Australia now so we’re excited to see what he can do with bat and ball this season.”

Deeping have lost brothers Joe and Sam Malton who have moved to Newborough and a club in Derbyshire respectively.

Moulton Harrox start their South Lincs and Border League season on Saturday with a trip to newly-promoted Burghley Park.

Harrox have made three new additions to their squad for the Championship campaign after securing the services of Blake Wolstenholme, Robbie Townsend and Flynn McMillan.