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Tucker Gardner Division 1

FORDHAM came up just 32 runs short in an enthralling match against mid-table side March Town.

Opting to bowl first, Fordham had March under pressure from the outset and, led by the relentless Charles Forden (5-42), they ensured that the visitors were never able to gain a foothold. Ian Jelleyman picked up three wickets for Fordham in a tidy spell that helped to see March dismissed for 183.

An excellent 43 from Gavin Harding boded well for Fordham early in their reply but for all his patience, Harding was unable to find a partner to stick with him.

Scott Blaber’s cameo of 25 late in the day raised hopes of victory but it wasn’t to be as March snared their last wicket with 151 on the board.

Matt Wilcox picked up 6-16 in a �frightening 10-over spell.

Division 2A

WISBECH Town proved too strong for Littleport II on Saturday as they �powered to a 135-run victory.

Bowling first, Port found wickets hard to come by but persevered nonetheless to restrict Wisbech to 215-5 at the close of the innings. Paul Morris led the way for Port with a tidy 10-over spell that yielded two wickets for 37 runs.

Port’s reply with the bat never really got going and aside from a respectable knock from Steve Gates (22) the team were unable to muster the runs needed.

l INSPIRED batting from Laksman Singh proved instrumental in guiding Sutton to a three-wicket win over Wimblington at the weekend.

Invited to bat first, Wimblington’s top order settled quickly and started accruing runs at a frightening rate as Sutton struggled to keep control.

D Walker (52) in particular looked a real threat but the momentum of the match was shifted midway through the innings thanks to some excellent bowling from Robert Braybrooke, who bagged three quick wickets to put the home side back in control.

Some competent support from Ryan Bowles (2-32) ensured Wimblington lost their last wicket with 171 scored.

Sutton lost three wickets for 29 in their reply but the timely intervention of Singh (82*) ensured the home side regained the initiative.

Singh struck 12 boundaries in a brisk innings and, supported by Paul Robinson (34), he saw the side to victory with five overs to spare.

l SOHAM came out on top in a low-scoring contest with Little Downham on Saturday.

Opting to bowl first, Little Downham would doubtless have been pleased with a superb showing that saw them dismiss their opponents inside 35 overs and with just 96 runs on the board.

J White was the destroyer-in-chief for Downham as he picked up 4-27 in a breezy 10-over spell. Peter Baker (3-21) provided more than capable support. Soham skipper Peter Hinde, notched 35 in a difficult innings for the home side.

Alex French (3-16) nipped out two early wickets for Soham in their riposte and the momentum was carried forward by David Lunn who also took 3-16 as Soham harried the visiting batsmen.

White (20) battled in vain to try and keep Downham in the game but it wasn’t to be as Soham had the last wicket wrapped up with just 81 runs scored.

l WILBURTON’S recent league woes continued as they slipped to a 10-wicket loss at Newmarket.

Ian Jacobs (42) and Stuart Norman (28) helped Wilburton into a strong position batting first but with the duo both dismissed Wilburton crumbled to 118 all out, losing their last five wickets for 12 runs.

Newmarket’s opening pair Ollie Rix (67*) and Geoff Maggott (42*) knocked off the total inside 27 overs despite Wilburton using six bowlers.

Division 3A

CITY of Ely II were soundly beaten by Chatteris in a match that all but put paid to their league ambitions this term.

Coming into the match, Chatteris occupied second spot in the league and a win would have put Ely in a good position to launch a late attack.

However, a poor batting performance cost the visitors on the day as they lost by six wickets.

Batting first, Ely started soundly enough with Matthew Tonge (27) M Hatcher (28) scoring freely. With the top order dismissed however, there was little resistance from the middle-order as Chatteris began to take wickets with increasing regularity.

A late knock of 20 from Sam Buck added some respectability to the scoring as Ely finished on 128.

Chatteris’ Liam Boxell (52) did much of the scoring for the home side in reply as the top order all but wrapped up the game with a strong batting performance. M Hatcher (2-13) bowled well for Ely under pressure.

Division 4A

A STUNNING century from Robert Blair saw Isleham to an imposing 120-run win over March IV.

Batting first, Isleham’s opening pair John Goff (47) and Robert Leigh (39) got the team off to a flying start and, with the new ball sufficiently tarnished, the pressure was off as Blair came to the crease.

Picking up where his openers had left off, Blair continued to accrue runs at a brisk rate until he was finally dismissed for 118. A late cameo from Steven Goff (31*) helped Isleham on to 281-4 at the close.

Requiring some seven-an-over for victory, March blasted out of the blocks but after an impressive opening from top-order pair James Shepard (37) and Toby Nulty (37) their innings faded badly. Colin Hood (4-26) and Leighton Sheldrick (4-30) were on hand to ensure the visitors were all out for 161.

l LACKLUSTRE batting from Witcham II saw them slip to an 81-run loss against Wisbech IV on Saturday.

Invited to bowl first, Witcham picked up regular wickets as the Wisbech line-up struggled to deal with the pace and guile of Callum Steel who took 3-45 in a decent 10-over spell.

Some useful support from Edward George (2-52) and Michael Spencer (2-72) had Wisbech pegged back but a vital knock of 91 from Suraj Karavadra ensured the visitors finished on 234-8 at the close.

Witcham’s reply with the bat started well as Ian Saberton (38) prospered but with the top order dismissed the Witcham line-up proved unable to resist as Wisbech beganto seize the advatage.

A resilient 51 from Lloyd Few served only to delay the inevitable for Witcham as the visitors wrapped up the last wicket for 153.