Division 2A A BLISTERING all-round display from Soham ensured they sailed to a 120-run win over Sutton at the weekend. Soham tasted their first defeat in Division 2A a fortnight ago at the hands of Wisbech, but bounced back in style against Sutton, produc

Division 2A

A BLISTERING all-round display from Soham ensured they sailed to a 120-run win over Sutton at the weekend.

Soham tasted their first defeat in Division 2A a fortnight ago at the hands of Wisbech, but bounced back in style against Sutton, producing the goods with both bat and ball to seal a comprehensive win.

Opting to bat first, the home side blasted into a commanding position from the outset as openers Nick Mingay (79) and Peter Hinde (41) seized control.

Further down the order Mick Harvey chipped in with a useful 41 to help Soham finish up on 218 from their 40 overs, a decent scoring rate of almost five-and-a-half per over.

L Singh led the way with the ball for Sutton taking 3-28 in a tidy seven-over spell.

Although the visitors faltered early on in reply, a middle order fightback gave Sutton some hope of holding off the rampant home attack. L Brown's knock of 22 was the outstanding performance on a difficult day for Sutton.

Matt Pyle's figures of 4-20 ensured he took the plaudits with the ball for Soham as Sutton were bowled out for 98. David Lunn's 4-28 for the home side was also worthy of note.

Meanwhile, a depleted Little Downham side were left ruing their missing players as they fell just 15 runs short of victory against Wisbech.

The visitors were left with just nine men due to travel difficulties but started superbly with the ball, taking six wickets for just 90 runs as Wisbech failed to take advantage of the obvious gaps in the field.

M Mace starred with the ball for Downham, taking 3-22 from his six-over spell with the rest of the wickets shared round the attack.

J White's 3-33 another impressive performance as Wisbech were bowled out for just 133.

Hopes of an unlikely victory were high early in their batting innings as Downham's White notched 48 to ensure the visitors reached 104-5.

An inspired late surge from Wisbech scuppered all hopes of victory, though, as Downham ran out of batsmen on 118 to leave them just 15 runs short of victory.

Tucker Premier League

FORDHAM were treated to a harsh lesson in life at the top as they were subjected to a 186-run mauling by Wisbech.

Fordham have found life tough since being promoted to the Tucker Premier at the end of last season and the trip to Wisbech, the league's top team, came at a bad time for the visitors who were shown no mercy by an impressive Wisbech side.

Batting first, Wisbech piled on the runs, making the most of an extraordinarily quick pitch to breeze their way on to 290-3 by the close of the innings.

Ian Jellyman led the way for a tireless bowling attack, taking 1-51 from his nine-over spell.

Fordham simply failed to find the same gear as their opponents with the bat and, aside from a commendable knock of 46 from opener Gavin Harding, they could only muster 104 as Wisbech again dominated.

Division 1A

FORDHAM II were left lamenting a sloppy batting effort after they lost out by 62 runs at Over.

Bowling first, Fordham's youngsters impressed with a solid-enough effort which ultimately kept the home side's scoring down to just 205-9 at the close of the innings. Tom Peters led the way for the visitors with a useful four-wicket haul.

Some notable knocks from Sean Brighty (36) and Ryan Houghton (28) kept Fordham in the hunt as the game moved towards the business end but their efforts ultimately proved in vain as Over moved up a gear and polished off the tail for just 143,

Meanwhile, a nailbiting tussle at Witcham ultimately came down in the home side's favour as visitors Needingworth fell just nine runs short.

Batting first, Witcham would have felt confident of victory after racking up an excellent 231 from their 40 overs. Tyler Phillips undefeated knock of 93, which included 13 boundaries, was the highlight of the innings though Nigel Pate's 61 was worthy of note.

Despite some early success with the ball, Witcham found wickets hard to come by against a resolute Needingworth line-up, which batted well right into the tail.

With a Needingworth victory seemingly in sight however, Witcham's Edward George (5-45) rose to the challenge and scored a number of late wickets to slow the charge and ultimately claim the win for the home side.

Pymoor's struggle in Division 1A continued at the weekend as they were resoundingly beaten by Cambridge NCCI.

Bowling first, Pymoor performed sluggishly and, despite taking eight wickets, were unable to stop Cambridge from racking up 236.

Needing about six-an-over for the win, the home side floundered from the outset and were bowled out for just 99.

Division 2

AN unbeaten 115 from City of Ely's Bruce King, saw his side to a 46-run win over Milton.

Invited to bat, the Ely top order seized the initiative and, led by the evergreen King and M Hatcher (56), they smashed their way to 238-4 from their allotted overs.

A blistering opening spell from Ben Storey in Ely's bowling reply caught Milton on the back foot and secured the bowler the day's best figures (4-43).

A late charge from the Milton tail end threatened to spoil the party for Ely, but the flurry of runs was shortlived as Ely polished off the tail for 192, Oliver Swann-Taylor's 3-28 proving invaluable for the home side.

Division 2A

A STAGGERING collapse from Littleport II allowed March Town to wrap up the smoothest of nine-wicket victories at the weekend.

Opting to bat first, Port started with great promise as Stuart Wallace (52) and Chris Farnell (37) saw off the new ball in some style.

With the dismissal of the opening pair however, Port capitulated at an alarming rate to finish on just 114 at the close of the innings.

With precious few runs to defend, the task was always going to be tough for Port and so it proved as the March top order cruised to their total inside 25 overs for the loss of just a single wicket. Daniel Jones' tidy five-over spell yielded 1-25 for Port.

Division 4A

A RUTHLESS display from Sutton II saw them cruise to a sizeable 212-run win over Somersham at the weekend.

Asked to bat first, Sutton set about their task with gusto and, led by the mesmeric Aiden Bowles (131), they smashed their way to 247-4 at the close of the innings. Chris Robinson's 42 complementing a superb knock from Bowles.

Sutton were in no mood to hang around after the lunch break and their clincial bowling attack had the visitors on the rack from the outset.

Richard Carter led the way for Sutton, taking 3-2 from his whirlwind two-over spell, as Somersham were bowled out for just 35 inside 15 overs.