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Divsion 2A

A COMMENDABLE all-round effort from Little Downham went ultimately unrewarded as they slipped to a six-wicket loss at St Ives.

Downham got off to a nervous start batting first and, at 2-18, the portents look ominous for the normally reliable side. To their credit though, they soon rallied and resolute batting from G Dewsbury (35) and P Cornwell (41) steadied what looked a ship destined to run aground.

Lower down the order D Cutforth (18*) and J White (17*) ensured the team finished on 160-8 having completed all their allotted overs.

Where St Ives had enjoyed regular success with the ball, Downham proved not so consistent and the flying start they desperately needed failed to materialise as Ives held firm.

Some workmanlike bowling from J White (1-29) and P Baker (1-30) was ultimately not enough to prevent Ives from reaching 162-4 with some three overs to spare.

A REMARKABLE game between Wisbech and Sutton produced some memorable batting, outstanding fielding and a staggering 500 runs.

In the end however, it was Wisbech who emerged victors by 30-runs as Sutton eventually ran out of overs in what was a thrilling run-chase.

A Sutton side fielding only nine players had to endure until 114 runs were on the board before a wicket finally fell but to their immense credit the side stuck to their task and managed to keep Wisbech’s scoring down to 265-6 at the close of the innings.

Spencer Saberton had the most joy with the ball as he collected 3-45 from his seven overs. Rob Braybrooke’s 1-40 in difficult conditions was also worthy of note.

Requiring an almighty 6.6-per-over for the win, Sutton look destined for a heavy defeat after three wickets fell for just 29. With outright belligerence however, Sutton redoubled their efforts and led by Braybrooke (63) and Saberton (92*), who clattered a quite remarkable 13 boundaries, they put themselves in with a chance of a most unlikely victory.

With the later removal of Braybrooke however, the runs dried up and Sutton fell just 30-runs short at the close of play.

A BLISTERING effort from batsmen Brady Stone and Dave Thomas, paved the way for Soham’s comfortbale 132-run win over Wilburton.

An indifferent start for Soham batting first saw them struggle early on by the arrival of Stone (49) and Thomas (50) at the crease swung the match in the visitors favour as the pair notched up no less than 12 boundaries between them. Solid figures of 2-29 from Ian Jacobs and 2-37 from Lee Newton weren’t enough to keep Soham from reaching 207-6 at the close.

Needing some brisk scoring of their own to keep pace with their visitors, Wilburton set out in search of runs but proved unable to match their opponents as the wickets tumbled. A cameo knock of 19 from Jacobs was as good as it thigs got for Wilburton as they were bowled out for 75. Alex French’s 4-20 proved instrumental in Soham’s win with Oliver Pringle’s 3-27 also worthy of note.

Division 1A

WITCHAM cantered to a seven-wicket win over Isleham at the weekend.

Bowling first, the home side made light work of a normally robust batting line-up and were taking tea with little more than a few hours gone after bowling Isleham out for 96.

Though B Simpson’s innings of 27 at the top of the order for Isleham promised much, the remainder of the line-up failed to muster the desperately needed runs as Ian Housden (4-22) and N Jones (4-27) collected wickets with unnerving ease.

Keen to have the points wrapped-up early, Witcham set out with attack in mind and breezy knocks from N Howlett (40) and N Pate (19) ensured the home side made it to 97 for the loss of just three wickets.

Divsion 3A

JUST 12-runs separated Ely II and St Ives in an absorbing battle on Saturday.

Deciding to bat first after winning the toss, Ely largely struggled to resist as Ives plundered wicket-after-wicket. Some herculean work from experienced duo Chris Aniskowicz (63) and Richard Lee (45) however, helped salvage a decent 186 from the grip of a lowly double-figure score.

Things again boded ill for Ely when Ives opening pair Steve Baxter (78) and Andrew Waters (37) piled on the runs at the top of the order but three quick wickets taken by Eliot Koopowitz pegged the visitors scoring. Frantic efforts from both teams in the last five overs saw the balance of the game shift on a number of occasions but ultimately it was held who held their nerve to take the narrow win.

Division 5A

AN excellent half-century from Todd Bridgland guided Soham to a five-wicket win over Burwell IV at the weekend.

Basement side Burwell, eased into their innings in a steady fashion as Soham probed with the ball but soon began to struggle as bowlers Peter Fretwell (3-3) and Liam Eley (2-15) increased the pressure. Some measured support from the rest of the bowling attack ensured Burwell made just 109 at the close.

Some early wickets for Burwell in their reply immediately piled pressure on the Soham middle-order but, led by Bridgland who grafted his way to an undefeated 50, the home side made it to 110 for the loss of just five wickets.