ALL the action from cricket across the region Division 5A A RAMPAGING performance from the bowlers of Soham II saw them rack up a crushing 152-run win over St Ives IV on Saturday. The platform for success was built early on though, as, tasked with battin

ALL the action from cricket across the region

Division 5A

A RAMPAGING performance from the bowlers of Soham II saw them rack up a crushing 152-run win over St Ives IV on Saturday.

The platform for success was built early on though, as, tasked with batting first, Soham scored quickly and freely notching up 251 from a more than fruitful 40 overs.

Ian Hobbs (75) top scored for Soham with Dale Isaacson chipping in with a brisk 41 to push the home side into a commanding position.

With plenty of runs to defend, Soham's bowlers kicked into top gear and had bowled their opponents out with just 99 runs on the board . Ian Hobbs took the plaudits for Soham with a blistering spell that yielded 4-11, with a decent haul of 3-22 coming from Chris Smith.

Division 1A

CENTURIANS Gareth Summerskill and James Ross-Craig ensured Burwell II sailed to a decisive 144-run victory over Pymoor at the weekend.

Keen to post a sizeable target batting first, Summerskill (134*) and Ross-Craig (122) scored at a breathtaking rate, making mincemeat of a Pymoor attack with had become renowned for its frugality last season. The home side finished on 304-4 from their 40 overs, a run-rate of some 7.6 per over. Pymoor's Lorens Herselmann took 1-56.

The visitors started promisingly in reply as they notched up 85 runs for the first three wickets, but the intervention of Burwell's Tom Jordan (4-17) changed the course of the game and Pymoor were dismissed for 160.

WITCHAM'S recent upturn in form continued at the weekend as they picked up a 40-run win against Over.

Batting first, Witcham coped commendably with what was an unpredictable track and managed to finish on 157 from their 40 alloted overs. Steve Cooper (27) and the extras column (30) top scored for Witcham.

Over too struggled on the surface when they came into bat and Witcham took full advantage, skittling their bewildered batsmen for just 117. Nick Jones (5-30) was the hero on the day for Witcham with Angus Pate (3-7) also bowling well.

Division 2

A DISAPPOINTING performance with the ball cost Ely victory against Longstanton on Saturday.

Invited to bat first, Ely, led once more by Bruce King (121*) who remains unbeaten in the league this season, smashed their way to 232-4 from their 45 overs. A Buck's 76 was also worthy of note for the visiting Ely side.

Needing a little more than five-an-over for the win, Longstanton took to their task with considerable zeal and caused much consternation in the field as they matched Ely's innings blow-for-blow. A solid return of 2-34 from King kept Ely in the hunt until the closing overs, but it wasnt to be in the end as Longstanton reached their total for the loss of just four wickets.

Division 2A

A SIX-wicket haul for Robert Palmer helped Little Downham to a comfortable four-wicket win over Wimblington at the weekend.

Downham were left reeling after a narrow loss at Wisbech last week, but showed no ill-effects against Wimblington as, restored to their full quota of players, they powered to a much needed win.

Invited to bat first the visitors' top three batsmen were dismissed for just 17 runs, allowing Palmer to set his sights on a vulnerable middle order and the strike bowler showed no mercy as he picked up wickets with unnerving regularity to see the visitors dismissed for just 125. Palmer finished with 6-39 from a superlative eight over spell.

Needing about three-an-over for the win, Downham batted solidly from the outset but lost a few quick wickets to put the pressure on. A decent knock of 28 from Phil Cornwell steadied the ship however, and saw the home side to victory with 13 overs to spare.

AN admirable bowling effort from Wilburton was not enough to stop them slipping to a disappointing five-wicket loss at March III.

Invited to bat first, the visitors were made to toil in the heat as runs became increasingly hard to come by. Some notable middle-order stands from Gary (19) and Paul Dewey (10) added 32 to the score while Alistair Braybrooke (16) and Steve Marshall (20) put on 37 to see the visitors on to 114.

Keen to make early in-roads with the ball, the Wilburton attack bowled ferociously, taking the first four wickets with just 26 runs on the board. The hardy attack finally ran out of steam in the wake of the fourth wicket-though and a damagin middle-order effort from J Stimpson (42) and P Ringham (36*) saw the home side to victory. Marshall led the way for Wilburton with the ball, taking 2-36.

A GUTSY effort with both bat and ball from Sutton I was not enough to prevent them slipping to a 62-run loss against Newmarket.

Tasked with bowling first, Sutton found some early joy on an unpredictable wicket but couldn't make good their early promise as the visitors finished on 210-9 at the close, a commendable run-rate of some 5.25 per-over.

Glenn Campbell starred with the ball for the home side as he collected 3-52 from what was a thunderous 10-over spell.

With plenty to do for the win, Sutton found life difficult early on against an inspired Newmarket attack, but some resolute middle-order play from the home side ensured they were in decent shape going into the business end of play.

Newmarket's Ollie Rix had other ideas, though and his 3-18 late on in the piece ensured the home side ultimately finished up on 148. Laxman Singh's 32 proved the highlight for Sutton.

A SUPERLATIVE bowling performance from Soham I ensured they made light work of Littleport in a resounding seven-wicket win.

Soham have been something of a surprise package this season and proved a handful once again on Saturday as they tore through the Littleport line-up. David Lunn (3-12) took the plaudits for Soham with Matthew Pyle (2-38) and Adam Lambert (2-21) providing more thna capable back-up as Port were dismissed for a mere 101. Andrew Berry and Simon Jennings both hit 20 for Port.

Eager to wrap up the win in double-quick time, Soham's top order flashed hard at the ball and lost only three wickets on their way to victory inside 18 overs. David Thomas' 34 for Soham proved the highlight. Youngster Benn Shipp took 2-19 for Port to cap a decent effort.

Divison 3A

A SUPERB innings of 90 from Ely II's Ed Aniskowicz ensured his side picked up a slender two-wicket win against Longstanton.

Bowling first, Ely did a sterling job of restricting the Longstanton batsmen and kept their score down to 183-9 at the close of the innings. Mark Deas (4-36) and Patrick Fitzgerald (3-37) bowled superbly to take the bulk of the wickets between them.

Ely floundered in reply with the bat and lost three quick wickets as Longstanton seized the initiative. The arrival of Aniskowicz at the crease brought a shift in momentum though, and Ely were soon back in the ascendancy.

Aided down the bottom of the order by Deas (36*), Aniskowicz racked up 90 runs to ensure the bottom pair were left with left with the simple task of bringing the win home.