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Cricket

Division 5A

SUTTON smashed a whopping 262 runs in a domineering win over Elsworth.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Sutton’s young trio Jack Loveday (70) Spencer Saberton (39) and David Mayle (40*) belied their tender years to put on a superb display with the bat.

After losing two early wickets, Saberton, 15, and Loveday, 14, added 70 for the third wicket before the arrival of Mayle, 15, to the crease, the youngster adding a further 47 for the sixth wicket in partnership with Loveday.

A sizeable total of 51 extras pushed Sutton’s total on to 262 at the close of the innings.

Sutton’s imposing total allowed captain Graham Mayle to rotate all of his bowling attack, with veteran Steve Northrop (2-2) and 60-year-old Martin Paul (3-4) rising to the challenge with gusto.

Fourteen-year-old Eddie Bowles also bowled well to take 1-6 from four overs.

Cambs Premier Division 2

FORDHAM were out-of-sorts with the bat as they surrendered a dominant position to lose by 49 runs.

Tasked with bowling first, Fordham’s attack enjoyed regular success against a fragile Weston Colville line-up, with batsmen time and again falling foul of the difficult pitch conditions.

Craig Theobold (3-46) bowled well to removed a potentially troublesome top order while the in-form Jason Harding (4-21) again got amongst the wickets, making short work of the middle order.

A tidy return of 2-27 for Chris Reay ensured Fordham had removed the visitors with just 133 runs on the board.

Fordham’s normally reliable opening pair of Harding and Mark Silcock were unable to put early runs on the board for the home side in their reply, managing just seven runs between them in a shaky start.

Nicholas Poole (21*) added some much-needed grit in the middle order for the hosts but three ducks in quick succession reduced Fordham to a near-disastrous 27-8.

Bowlers Thebold (19) and Reay (15) restored some pride late in the innings with a pair of gutsy knocks but it was never enough as the last wicket fell with just 84 runs on the board.

Division 1A

THE continuing damp and dreary weather ensured the bowlers were firmly on top as Witcham wrapped up a five-wicket win over struggling Little Downham.

Opting to bat first on their home track, Downham found life difficult from the first ball and once again failed to get going as a lively Witcham attack tore through them.

Iain Housden picked up three wickets from just 13 runs from his short spell while Nigel Hailstone continued to impress as he chipped in with 2-12.

Young Edward George continued in his rich vein of form so far this season as he too two wickets for seven runs. Downham were bowled out for just 45 runs.

Requiring little more than one run-per-over for the win, Witcham should have knocked the runs off in double-quick time but also struggled on an unpredictable surface as Downham hit some decent lengths early on.

The hosts’ Peter Baker was again in super form, taking 3-16 from his short spell at the top of the innings.

Despite his best efforts though, Downham simply didn’t have enough runs on the board as Housden (16) and P Robinson (16*) ensured the visitors crawled over the line, with five wickets still in hand.

Division 2A

HADDENHAM’S search for a win continued on in vain as they slipped to a five-wicket defeat at the hands of neighbours Sutton.

Batting first, Haddenham’s Ian Jacobs (27) performed well enough at the top of the order to fend off the new ball but he was woefully short of support as wickets tumbled around him.

Number four John Lee managed a 12-run cameo before he was dismissed and the rest of the line-up was quick to follow.

Sutton’s Glen Campbell was the star of the innings as he picked up 4-10 from just seven overs, while Ryan Bowles managed 2-6 as Haddenham were dismissed for just 64 runs.

The hosts got off to the perfect start in their reply with the ball, openers Campbell and Andy Bowles dismissed for a pair of ducks.

The arrival of Cornelio De Plessis at the crease steadied Sutton’s ship however, the number three hitting 46 timely runs to put the visitors back in control.

Robert Braybrooke’s 13 helped wrap up the win for Sutton.

Haddenham’s Chris Hughes took 3-35 in an excellent six-over spell at the top of the innings for the hosts.

AN abject batting performance from Pymoor saw them lose out to Needingworth by nine wickets.

Batting first, Pymoor’s normally resilient line-up was far from at its best and was quickly in trouble as the visitors rampaged.

Only Lourens Herselman (45) emerged with credit as he clattered eight boundaries and two sixes in a brisk knock at the top of the order.

With the South African dismissed, Needingworth were able to plunder wickets at will, only the extras column total of 21 helping the hosts reach 84 at the close of the innings.

A decent spell from Steve Saberton in Pymoor’s reply saw the experienced seamer pick up 1-24 from his eight overs. There was little other reward for Pymoor’s bowlers however, as Needingworth’s Daniel Sherlock (41*) guided his side to victory.

Senior Division 3

FORDHAM II’s experienced bowling attack helped them secure a crushing nine-wicket win over rivals Isleham.

Phil Dean (3-18), Clinton Cornwell (2-2) and Mark Barton (3-28) were in superlative form bowling first for Fordham, ripping through the Isleham order.

Gary Cowling (31) and D Fitchett (30) provided some gutsy resistance in the middle order for the hosts but they couldn’t keep Fordham at bay for long as they were bowled out for 96.

Tim Acheson made short work of picking up Chris Rule’s wicket early in the piece for Isleham but there was scant reward for any of the other bowlers as the visitors closed out the win inside 22 overs.

Adam Cornwell (51*) and Nick Foulds (31*) batted superbly to chalk up another win.

Division 3A

SOME consistent bowling from an experienced Ely II side saw them to a comfortable 40-run win over Burwell II.

Opting to open the batting at the Paradise Centre, Ely’s Pete Cooper enjoyed an excellent start to his innings, making 31 at the top of the order before he nicked one behind.

Mark Higginson (16) and Phil Koopowitz (20) made brief but useful visits to the crease before Sifaifual Nury played a timely knock of 37 coming in at number six to haul Ely past the 150 mark.

Together with David Cook (16) the duo were able to reach 159 before the final wicket fell.

A wobbly start from Burwell saw openers Josh Arksey (4) and Mark Woods (5) dismissed cheaply and the panic quickly spread throughout the team as Ely stepped up a gear.

Cook (4-23) and Higginson (3-19) were in destructive moods and made light work of the visitors middle order.

Jamie Seabrooke impressed with a cultured knock of 59 for Burwell but he was a lone bright point in an otherwise grey effort from the visitors, who were bowled out for 119.

CCA Minor League

WILBURTON II got back to winning ways with a 169-run victory over Royston on Saturday.

Batting first, Wilburton’s Callum Steel (44) and Stuart Norman (12) put on 39 for the first wicket. Jake Bartolozzi (40) and John Falconer (35) continued the good work with a 53-run partnership, while Tom Padmore (14) and Lee Newton (31*) helped push the home side on to a season high total of 219-7.

With such a large number of runs on the board, Wilburton were able to set an attacking field and put Royston under pressure from the outset. Steve Marshall (3-20) bowled tightly and Richard Padmore (5-8) tore through the middle order, before Callum Steel took 2-11 to end the match and bowl Royston out for 50.