ALL the cricket action from across the district

Division 1A

WITCHAM kept up the pressure on the league leaders with a superlative 45-run win over Littleport.

The young side have been in excellent form in recent weeks and their winning run showed no signs of slowing as they overcame a determined Littleport team, albeit one that has struggled so far this year.

Opening the batting on a sweltering day, Witcham made steady if unspectacular progress as Port bowled a disciplined length. Tyler Philips once again starred as he hit 57 to pin together the Witcham innings that ended on 156-9.

James South’s excellent return of 5-34 for Port made sure Witcham were kept shackled, but some 33 extras was doubtless disappointing for Port.

A Buxton’s 33 at the top of the order saw Port off to a flying start but a middle order collapse soon had them struggling as Witcham took control. Nigel Philips took 4-21 and Ian Housden 2-17 as Port were dismissed for 111.

PYMOOR’S crunch clash with Needingworth ended with their first win of the season.

In desperate straits after a loathsome start to the season, Pymoor came out firing for their encounter with fellow strugglers Needingworth and were soon on top bowling first.

South African Lourens Herselmann took 3-20 from his 10 over spell to see that the visitors were dismissed for a meagre 139.

Requiring some three-and-a-half for victory, Pymoor set out in confident fashion and had little trouble in racking up the runs. Ashley Legge stole the show for the home side with a masterful 71* as Pymoor reached 144 for the loss of just two wickets and with 18 overs to spare.

Senior League Division 2

CITY OF Ely fell just 10 runs short of victory in a absorbing tussle with March II.

Bowling first, Ely would have been satisfied with what was a decent effort that saw March bowled out for a reasonable 168. Sam Buck was the undoubted star for city as he blasted his way to a five-wicket haul at a cost of just 24 runs. Chris Reay picked up 2-29 in a competent six-over spell.

In reply, Ely were somewhat off colour and things boded ill when the normally impregnable defences of opener Bruce King were breached for 20. Nonetheless Ely perservered and looked on course for the win as Matthw Tonge knocked 46 in a decent middle order fightback.

With the last four wickets tumbling for just four runs however, the victory was snatched from Ely’s grasp.

Division 2A

AN unbeaten knock of 127 from G Dewsbury saw Little Downham to a crushing 160-run win over Littleport.

Invited to bat first, Downham were in a belligerent mood and made few mistakes as they clattered their way to a quite astonishing 280-3 from 40 overs. Dewsbury’s unbeaten knock combined with a useful 47 from P Cornwell ensured the home side maintained a run-rate of seven-an-over throughout their innings.

P Morris’ commendable 1-43 was the pick of the bowling for Port.

Needing quick runs to stand any hope of victory, Port set out with attack on their mind but they were unable to match the efforts of their opponents and found themselves in dire straights at 101-5 at the half-way point. S Jenning’s cameo of 30 at the top of the order ensured he came away with some credit as Port were bowled out for 120.

Downham’s T Connolly took 5-32 in what was a superb seven-over spell that blasted through the tail.

A RELENTLESS effort from the Sutton bowling attack saw them to a 53-run win over Wilburton on Saturday.

Sutton’s season has started to gather momentum with some vastly improved performances in recent weeks and so it was again against Haddenham as they produced a confident performance.

Opening the batting, Sutton produced a solid performance and led by the flashing blade of Rob Braybrooke (44), they edged their way to 162-6 at the close. Glenn Campbell hit four boundaries and two maximums on his to a speedy 31.

Luke Minall picked up 3-47 from his five overs to lead the Wilburton bowlers.

A lamentable start for Wilburton saw both openers run out with just 11 on the board and aside from Ian Jacobs 31, there was little to cheer as the home side were dismissed for 109. Laxman Singh took 2-2 for Sutton with R Bowles picking up 2-13.

Divsion 3A

AN incredible innings from Ely II’s Robert Finch saw them to a 23-run victory over Willingham.

Batting first, Ely looked assured and led by Finch, who smashed some 15 boundaries in his 102, they recorded 202-6 at the close of play. Melvyn Palmer (38) provided a useful foil for Finch at the top of the order.

Where Finch had starred with the bat, Ely’s Oliver Sellers shone with the ball and the youngster picked up 5-44 to leave Willingham in dire straits. Palmer also chipped in with 2-6 from a two-over cameo to see the visitors bowled out for 179.

Division 4A

A DETERMINED effort from Haddenham saw them to a narrow two-wicket win over Witcham II at the weekend.

Invited to bowl first, Haddenham did a superb job restricting their opponents scoring and they managed to have their innings sewn up for just 147 runs. Jason Murfitt (3-16) led the excellent home attack with able support provided by Dillon Wass (3-43) and Chris Hughes (2-27). Witcham’s A George hit 25 for the visitors, with L Few (25) also chipping in.

Determined to fight their way back into the game, Witcham produced some excellent deliveries on a hard pitch and kep Haddenham under pressure throughout. Despite the best efforts of E George (3-21) and A George (2-16) however, Haddenham managed to grind out the win with two wickets remaining.

Notable efforts from John Lee (59*) and Chris Hughes (26) and saw Haddenham to victory.

Division 5A

AN assured batting effort from Little Thetford saw them to a consummate 10-wicket win over Willingham.

Bowling first, Thetford wasted no time in testing the visitors’ mettle and their consistent line and length ultimately proved too much for Willingham to handle as they were bowled out for just 98.

Needing a little less than two-and-a-half per over for victory, Thetford had time on their side and they made no mistake as the opening pair brought the win home without so much as a wicket lost.

Tucker Premier

FORDHAM suffered a torrid time at Abington as they were defeated by seven-wickets.

Bowling first, the Fordham top order floundered and they found themselves neck-deep in trouble as the eight wicket fell with just 59 runs on the board.

A herculean lower order effort from Jason Harding (40*) and Charles Forden (16) brought an air of respectability to the score however, and Fordham eventually posted 121.

Two early wickets for Harding (2-24) in Fordham’s reply instilled some hope of an unlikely comeback but a middle order fightback from Abington all but quashed their momentum and they wrapped up the win for the loss of three wickets.