A roundup of all the cricket action from across the district

Division 2A

SOHAM put in one of their performances of the season to upset league leaders St Ives on Saturday.

Peter Hinde’s rejuvenated team have been in excellent form throughout the season and capped a decent run of wins with a telling six-wicket victory over St Ives.

Batting first, the hosts got off to a nervous start and their hitherto superlative batting form seemed to desert them as Soham duo Keith Metcalfe (3-16) and Steve Bell (3-10) made hay.

Some staunch work in the Ives middle-order restored some respectability to their scoring but Adam Lambert (3-28) was on hand for the visitors to ensure the innings was wrapped up for just 114.

Despite losing skipper Hinde cheaply in the early stages, Soham’s riposte was largely a solid one and some level-headed batting from Todd Bridgland (42) and Tom Clayton (52) ensured the visitors had little trouble in reaching their target.

Tucker Premier

FORDHAM’S struggles continued on Saturday as they slumped to a 193-run loss at title-hopefuls Wisbech.

Deciding to bowl first after winning the toss, Fordham’s attack bowled admirably and found wickets easy to come by as Wisbech faltered.

The only sticking point for the visitors came in the shape of batsmen Gary Freear however, who smashed a staggering 152 runs to push the home side on to a flattering 264-7 declared. Graham Arnold took 2-10 in a brief spell for Fordham.

The visitor’s 265-run winning target was always destined to be a tough one and so it proved as their top order offered little resistance. A middle order rally from Darren Theobold (13) and Jason Harding (13) was as good as it got for Fordham as they were steamrolled to 71 all out by a rapacious Wisbech.

Division 1A

PYMOOR’S hopes of back-to-back wins were comprehensively dashed by Cambridge NCI at the weekend as they were subjected to a nine-wicket thrashing.

Last week’s encounter against Over saw Pymoor rack up some 339 runs in a blistering performance but their form deserted them on Saturday as they were bowled out for just 61 by an NCI side in no mood to hang around.

Four wickets for just eight runs by NCI’s Martin Sneesby did much of the damage to Pymoor’s chances as they were bowled out in just 27 overs.

An early wicket for the visitors in their reply briefly raised hopes of an unlikely win but the arrival of Robert Coe (39) at the crease soon put paid to that as NCI wrapped up the win inside 20 overs.

FORDHAM emerged narrow victors from a superlative matchup against Witcham at the weekend.

Nigel Pate hit 50 and M Hook notched 34 for Witcham as they posted 148-9 batting first. Fordham’s Tom Hancock starred with the ball as he collected 4-38 while Barry Peters chipped in with 3-36.

Fordham’s reply got off to a shaky start as Witcham tested their mettle and they looked in real trouble at the half-way stage as Callum Steel (4-28) began to run riot.

The arrival of Scott Blaber changed the game however, as he blasted a quick fire 43 to snatch victory with just one wicket to spare for the home side

Division 2A

A FEARSOME bowling effort from Wisbech II saw them consign Wilburton to a seven-wicket defeat at the weekend.

Tasked with batting first, Wilburton began with some promise as openers A Jacobs (15) and Thom Walker (16) slowly accrued runs but their demise signalled a worrying collapse as John Mallett and Paul Strickle blasted through the home line-up.

Gary Dewey chipped in with 15 in the middle order for Wilburton to delay the inexorable flood of wickets but Wisbech weren’t to be denied for long and the home side were eventually dismissed for 80.

A brace of wickets for Steve Marshall early in Wilburton’s reply inspired some confidence for the home side but Wisbech soon rallied to the setback and managed to knock off their total in the 22nd over.

Senior League 2

A FAILURE to convert promising starts into big runs saw Ely soundly beaten by March on Saturday.

Batting first, Ely’s batsmen looked generally solid at the crease and had little trouble pushing in to reasonable scores of 20 and 30 but a stark failure to make their dominance pay ultimately left them short of runs at the close.

M Hatcher hit a brisk 37 for the visitors at the top of the order and Ed Aniskowicz caressed his way to 35 to put Ely in control. Unable to push on however, the duo were soon dismissed and Ely fell to 147-9 at the close.

Needing regular wickets to upset the March batting, Ely were boosted by the early efforts of Sam Buck (4-48) and Ben Storey (1-29) but their early endeavour ultimately went without reward as March eased to victory in the 36th over.

Division 4A

HADDENHAM’S run of good form was brought to an abrupt end at the weekend as they slipped to a 79-run reverse at Wisbech IV.

Bowling first, the visitors were made to work hard for their wickets and despite some excellent returns for Neil Smith (3-32) and Geoff Buck (4-52) Wisbech managed to post 210-9 at the close of the innings.

An encouraging knock of 54 from Gary Thistlethwaite in Haddenham’s reply boded well for the visitors as they looked to build towards their target but a lack of partners for the experienced batsmen saw Haddenham dismissed for 131.

Division 5A

SOHAM II were denied victory by just four runs in a belting tussle with Burwell IV.

Bowling first, Soham did a decent job of restricting the visitors despite some useful knocks from J Askey (57) and G Nielson (55). Wade Leaford picked up 2-19 for Soham as they kept Burwell pegged to 172-6 at the close.

The hosts’ reply started well as Peter Fretwell (31) and Chris Smith (33) laid the foundations but despite some notable contributions from lower-order duo Simon Martin (22*) and Alan Fretwell (20), Soham were unable to find enough runs to take the win and were bowled out for 168.

Nielson impressed for Burwell with a six-over spell that yielded 3-34.