A roundup of all the region’s cricket action

Division 1A

A VIRTUOSO performance from Doug Marsh saw Littleport to a seven-wicket win over Needingworth at the weekend.

The Port pace ace picked up 7-10 from just 5.5 overs to obliterate the visitors and put Littleport firmly in the driving seat.

Bowling first, the Needingworth openers initially frustrated their hosts and a sizeable score looked likely until the introduction of Marsh who wasted little time in causing panic in the Needingworth line up. In a whirlwind spell, Marsh ensured the visitors were reduced from 38-1 to 90 all out.

Adrian Buxton hit 32* at the top of the order in Port’s reply and assisted by James South (34) the pair managed to bring the win home inside 22 overs.

WITCHAM were brought back down to earth with a bump at the weekend as they were hammered by Histon.

Bowling first, some good early work from Tyler Phillips (4-62) put the home side in the driving seat only for Histon to regroup in the middle overs. Though Angus Pate picked up 2-25 late on, Histon pushed past the 200-mark to post 214 at the close.

After a useful innings with the bat, Histon emerged from lunch keen to carry their momentum forward with the ball and were helped somewhat, by Witcham’s sluggish batting which eventually saw them dismissed for 114. Philips top scored with 35.

SCINTILLATING bowling ensured Fordham scored a 35-run win over Pymoor on Saturday

Chamilla Priyankara (38) and Chris Rule (27) produced an opening stand of 71 to set Fordham on their way before Jordan Theobold and Steve Morley shared in a stand of 80.

Both batsmen remained undefeated with Thebold on 37 and Morley on 33 as their side reached 194-6 at the close.

Pymoor started well in reply but some excellent bowling from Phil Dean (4-36) and Ian Jelleyman (2-27) ensured their revival was short lived.

Senior Division 2

A FALTERING display with the bat from Ely saw them consinged to a disappointing 94-run loss against Yelling.

Opting to bowl first, Ely met with some dogged resistance from the Yelling top order and found wickets hard to come by as the runs flowed. A vastly improved effort post the drinks break brought greater reward for Ely however, and led by Sam Buck (2-21) they managed to reduce the visitors to 179-7 at the close.

M Hatcher hit 37 opening Ely’s reply but his example was seldom followed as Yelling tore through the batting attack. Though Andrew Foster managed 21, there was little else to cheer as Ely were dismissed for 85.

Division 2A

SUTTON boosted their hopes of avoiding the drop by breezing to a five-wicket win over Littleport II.

After winning the toss, Port elected to bat first and began solidly enough as Sutton probed away. A useful 19 from S Gates looked set to push the visitors on to a reasonable score until the intervention of young Ryan Bowles who picked up 3-13 to dampen the scoring. J Nutall chipped in with 2-12 at the back end of the innings to stunt Port’s run rate and eventually see them dismissed for 83.

Michael Grady smashed three boundaries and three maximums at the top of the order for Sutton as he posted a match-winning 57 not out though Sutton were made to sweat as Port’s P Morris bagged 3-25 in a blistering spell.

LITTLE Downham consolidated their place in mid-table with a resounding 123-run win over March II on Saturday.

Bowling first, Downham seized the opportunity to post an imposing score and some good work from openers P Baker (45) and N King (12) ensured solid foundations were laid.

A breezy 37 from M Nichols was the perfect pre-cursor to a standout knock of 74 from Phil Cornwell which pushed Downham on to 245-5 at the close of the innings.

Needing a little more than six-an-over for victory, March’s task was always set to be a tough one and at 101-6 they stood over the abyss. A brief middle-order revival was quickly snuffed out by Downham’s J White who picked up match-winning figures of 6-26 to see the visitors dismissed for 122.

A STUNNING batting effort from Wimblington saw them to a 159-run win over Wilburton at the weekend.

Batting first, the home side’s Dave Walker (49) and Shaun Simpson (95) added 138 in just 72 minutes as Wilburton’s bowlers tolied. Some excllent work from Steve Marshall (5-56) saw five wickets fall for just 39 runs but it was all too late for the visitors as Wimblington posted a seven-and-a-half per over 304.

Time and again Wilburton have struggled for runs this season and despite some determined efforts throughout the order, the team again faltered and found themselves in trouble at 64-4. Though Thom Walker batted well for his 37 in the middle order, he was afforded little support and his side were eventually dismissed for 145.

Division 4A

HADDENHAM regained the coveted second-spot on Saturday after a telling eight-wicket victory over strugglers Bluntisham.

The recenly reformed side have been locked in a season long battle with Fordham for the chance at promotion and looked to have seized the initiative once more with an impressive win.

Bowling first, things boded ill for the home side after a decent opening stand of 62 from Bluntisham. Some decent lines from Chris Hughes (3-12) and Dillon Wass (3-40) kept the home side in the match and helped restrict the visitors to 126-8 at the close.

A nervy start with the bat for Haddenham saw them reduced to 19-2 but the ship was more than steadied by Geoff Buck (58*) and Jason Murfitt (61*) who guided the home side to victory with no further losses.

DIVSION 5A

CHATTERIS all but ended Soham II’s hopes of promotion at the first attempt this year with a comfortable five-wicket victory.

Peter Fretwell clobbered 58 at the top of the order for Soham in what proved a fruitful start but aside from a capable knock of 34 from Chris Branch thereafter, the visitors couldn’t quite produce the big runs to push them on to an exceptional total. Soham’s last wicket fell with 183 on the board.

Two quick wickets for the in-form Fretwell kept Soham in the ascendancy early on in their riposte but a muscular knock of 83 from Chatteris’ S Porter regained control for the home side. Fretwell added two more wickets to finish with figures of 4-33 but it wasnt enough on the day as Chatteris cruised to the win.