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LITTLEPORT survived a spirited fightback from Wilburton to emerge narrow victors on Saturday.

Opting to bowl first, Port found it hard going against a resolute visiting line-up who scored freely as Port struggled to exert pressure.

Wilburton’s Tom Walker led the way with the bat, notching up 58 to see the visitors on to 111-3 at the midway point in the innings. Tony Jacobs (25) provided a useful foil for Walker.

The arrival of Port skipper Mark Scott saw the momentum shift dramatically however, as the paceman picked up 7-32 in a startling six-over spell that ensured the Wilburton innings was wrapped up for 177.

A solid start for Port with the bat looked set to consign the visitors to a sizeable defeat, but the bowling combination of Ian Jacobs (3-35) and S Marshall (2-41) put Wilburton firmly in the driving seat as Port began to wobble.

At 92-6, Wilburton needed only to mop up the tail, but C Farnell had other ideas and his 53 ensured Port made it home with just two wickets to spare.

A GRITTY display with the bat from City of Ely saw them to a comfortable five-wicket victory over Cottenham.

Bowling first, Ely made regular inroads into the Cottenham line-up which time and again conspired in its own downfall as wickets were thrown away. But for a quietly impressive knock of 90 not out from Nick Davies, the visitors would have fallen far short of the 174 they eventually posted.

Both Ben Storey (2-13) and Nigel Hailstone (2-31) sparkled with the ball but the plaudits were taken by Kingshuk DasGupta who emerged from his 11-over spell with figures of 3-38.

Needing a steady start to ensure victory, Ely set about their task in some style, Will Farnaby (58*) and M Hatcher (32) in particular impressing as Cottenham were dispatched. Some 31 extras ensured that Ely reached their target with five overs to spare.

There was victory also for Ely II as they made light work of their counterparts from Cottenham.

Bowling first, Ely proved somewhat wayward but managed to create enough pressure to take regular wickets. Despite conceding some 38 extras, the visiting Ely attack managed to have the Cottenham innings sewn up for just 127. Mark Deas was the standout performer with the ball taking 2-12 from his 10 overs.

Ely had little trouble settling at the crease when asked to bat and some solid knocks of 35 from Mark Sellers and 33 from S Jackson allowed them to sail to victory inside 30 overs.

RUTHLESS hitting from Histon left Littleport without so much as a wicket as they slipped to a 10-wicket defeat.

Despite an excellent start with the bat from Port that saw Adrian and Lewis Buxton put on 79 before a wicket was lost, a less than impressive effort from the remainder of the Port lineup saw them bowled out for 164.

In reply, Histon put the home side to the sword with opening pair Jack Watson (53) and Nigel Hills (90), who managed 14 maximums, pushing the home side to their target inside 20 overs.

AN eye-catching performance from Soham’s Paul Leaford helped his side to a three-wicket win over Abbots Ripton.

Bowling first, Soham, and in particular Leaford, responded well to a solid start from Ripton and soon had them wobbling as the top order tumbled. A middle order fightback from L Smith (52) threatened to spoil a superb effort from Soham, but Leaford was on-hand once again to ensure that the visitors were dismissed for 155. Leaford’s 5-50 proving a superlative effort, though Steve Bell’s 2-22 was also worthy of note.

Confidence now endemic throughout the team, Soham excelled with the bat and an excellent middle-order effort led by Chris Smith (46) and Matt Walters (43) pushed the home side into a winning position. Mark Allen (21*) brought the win home for a buoyant Soham side.

FORDHAM were comprehensively outplayed in their Tucker Premier matchup against Sawston.

Batting first, Fordham lost early wickets and only a superb partnership of 92 between Ian Baldwin (58) and Graham Arnold (38) gave the innings respectability. Jason Harding weighed in with 22 late in the innings to see the home side on to 172-9 at the close of the innings.

On a gem of a batting track the total was well short of what was required and Sawston wasted no time in piling on the runs as Fordham floundered.

Though Charles Forden grabbed an early wicket for the home side, the visitors suffered no further ills on their way to a nine-wicket win.

Fordham II meanwhile, lost a close enocunter against Cambridge NCI by 16 runs. Jack Peters, Tom Peters and Phil Dean all took two wickets a-piece as the Cambridge side were dismissed for 168.

Adam Cornwell made 30 and Nick Foulds 22 in Fordham’s response but they were bowled out for 152, just short of their target.

There was better news for Fordham IIIs however, as they defeated Sutton II by 72 runs.

Debutant Cy Philp made 47 for Fordham with Sean Brighty making 22 but a fine partnership for the sixth wicket between Roger Massuard (37) and Martin Hancock (33*) lifted Fordham past the 200-mark as they totalled 210-6 from their 40 overs.

Sutton began well with the bat and though somewhat behind the required rate, were in contention for the win. Brighty and Hancock’s introduction in to the attack changed the game however, and the flow of runs was stemmed, seeing Sutton finish on 138-4 from their 40 overs.

HADDENHAM stretched their unbeaten run to three games with a consummate seven-wicket win over Bluntisham.

Haddenham took to the field brimming with confidence after back-to-back league wins and their dogged bowling attack rose to the fore once again against Bluntisham. Though the visitors put on 60 for the first wicket, some excellent work from Chris Hughes (3-25) and Dillon Wass (2-18) ensured the home side retook the initiative and Haddenham managed to restrict the visitors to 142-9 come the close of the innings.

Keen to wrap up the win with the minimum of fuss, Haddenham’s opening pairing of Jason Murfitt (21) and Adam Clow (53) impressed with a solid opening stand and, with the groundwork laid, the home side’s Gary Thistlethwaite (21*) and Dillon Wass (17*) moved to seal the points.

A NIGHTMARE performance with the bat cost Pymoor victory against a clinical Needingworth side.

Batting first, Pymoor found the going tough against an experienced Needingworth attack and aside from a decent-enough knock of 20 from Nick Saberton, the team proved unable to stick it out at the crease. Needingworth had the 10th wicket secured with just 87 runs on the board.

Doubtless deflated from a less-than effective performance with the bat, Pymoor again struggled to find their best form with the ball and despite their best efforts, proved unable to take a wicket as Needingworth cruised to their meagre target inside 22 overs.

A BRAVE effort from Little Thetford went unrewarded on Saturday as they lost out by three wickets to Chatteris.

Batting first, Thetford proved no match for a fiercely accurate Chatteris attack and they found themselves all out for just 77 runs. Determined to emerge from the match with some much-needed points however, Thetford galvanised themselves for their spell in the field and made immediate inroads as Chatteris too struggled. Despite a superb effort that saw seven wickets tumble however, Chatteris held on to take the win.