Cambs and Hunts Senior Division 2

BURWELL cemented their place at the top of Division 2 with a battling three-wicket win over struggling Yelling on Saturday.

An impressive performance with the ball from Burwell’s pace attack saw them time-and-again pick up wickets at key times, with their batting colleagues able to complete the subsequent run chase, albeit with a few scares along the way.

The victory sees Burwell move on to 147 points with an 18.38 points average, comfortably clear of second-place Chatteris who have a tally of 127 points and an 18.14 average.

Tasked with bowling first, Burwell opening duo Robin Kemp and Merrick Fuller made a superb tandem attack, landing four early blows as the hosts sought to settle in at the top of the order.

Sam (26) and Aaron Johnson (20) managed to steady the ship for the hosts for a short while before first-change bowler Richard Yates took up the mantle and tore into the middle order, taking 3-41 from his 12 overs.

A quick-fire 24 from Themelan Pachippan down the order hauled Yelling past the 100 mark but they could only post 144 at the close.

Fuller (3-27) was the pick of the Burwell bowlers, while Kemp managed 2-22.

Manish Burman posted 28 opening the batting for Burwell but a few failures among the top order meant Yelling soon had their tails up.

Number five batsmen Tom Williams came to the rescue though, as he played patiently for 37 along with Yates, who finished undefeated on 18 to help guide the visitors to a three-wicket win.

Yelling’s Stephen Tack (3-30) was in impressive form for the hosts with the ball but bowled through his maximum of 12 overs early in the innings.