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JAMES Nuttall smashed 68 runs and picked up two wickets as Sutton clinched a 21-run win over March III.

Batting first, Sutton looked to be in dire straits as they slumped to 28-4 early on, with the top three batsmen dismissed having scored fewer than 10 runs.

Cue the arrival of Nuttall to the crease, bringing with him a complete change of momentum in the match.

The number six batsman unloaded ferociously on the March attack, smashing 10 sixes and a four as he raced on to 68. When he was dismissed, bowled by Matthew Hubbard, Sutton had recovered to 114-6.

Braam Colyn added an undefeated 20 late in the day to help the visitors post 168 all out.

Dennis Furnell (45) started superbly for March in their reply and able assistance from Stuart Fox (29) at the top of the order helped the hosts take control.

Glen Campbell proved the perfect partnership breaker for Sutton, however, as he nipped out 3-31 to get Sutton back in the match.

Nuttall weighed in with 2-46 to cap a fine day all round, while young Ryan Bowles (2-22) also performed well. March collapsed to 147 all out.

HADDENHAM’S batsmen proved too strong for Cottenham II on Saturday as they muscled their side to a 62-run win.

Batting first on their home strip, Haddenham made a super 219-5, with Andrew Foster making 50, Geoff Buck 90 and John Lee 21.

Cottenham fought gamely in their reply but were eventually dismissed for 157 as Ian Jacobs (3-34), Dillon Wass (2-15) and Foster (2-22) bowled tightly.

LITTLE Downham were brought down to earth with a bump on Saturday as they were consigned to a five-wicket defeat by Abbott’s Ripton.

Downham has dispatched Cambridge NCI in superlative style with the bat last week but showed no signs of recapturing their form against Ripton as they were bowled out for a meagre 73.

Despite a late wobble, Ripton held firm to knock the runs off for the loss of five wickets.

Tucker Premier Division 2

FORDHAM made it three wins in a row as they bounced back again to record a 25-run victory at Ickwell.

Fordham made steady progress batting first, with cameos from Joel Gilmour (29) and Ian Baldwin (27). But despite other double-figure contributions from earlier batsmen, they were reduced to 129 for 5.

Then, Jason Harding joined wicketkeeper Mark Hatcher to form a superb alliance that yielded 89 runs for the sixth wicket.

Harding was run out for 41 in the final over but Hatcher remained unbeaten with a splendid 61 not out, as Fordham posted 218-7.

Ickwell’s reply was dominated by opener Welch who made a fine 76, supported by Robertson with 29.

The two batsmen put their side in a winning position requiring 79 runs to win with seven wickets and 20 overs in hand.

But then Charlie Forden and Chris Reay returned to the attack and the hosts capitulated to 193 all out, losing their last seven wickets for 53 runs.

Forden followed up last week’s eight-wicket haul with 5-50 and Reay claimed 3-41 with good support from Clinton Cornwell, who took 2-28.

CCA Senior League Division 2

ELY made it two wins on the spin by easing to a 15-run victory over Camden.

Ely were put into bat on a damp track. Early wickets fell in the form of Tom Beaumont (4) and Andy Buck (13), who were both victims of Dip Basu (3-38).

Fortunately, the hosts’ in-form skipper Ed Aniskowicz continued his astonishing start to the season with the bat. He and vice-captain Jonny Wallace added 91 for the third wicket.

After a dogged start, last week’s century-maker Aniskowicz struck some lusty blows on his way to a pivotal 93. Wallace’s gritty innings continued until he was caught off the bowling of Ali Khan for 29.

Ely keeper Mike Sellers was promoted up the order to good effect but, unfortunately, Aniskowicz perished soon after.

The skipper was bowled going for a big shot, giving Basu his third wicket.

Dan Ingram entered the fray and he and Sellers added 59 for the fifth wicket with a combination of boundaries and good running – this partnership added real impetus to the innings and took the hosts to within touching distance of 200.

The highlight of the Ely innings was a scintillating lofted cover drive from Ingram. Unfortunately, Sellers departed for 26 as he was bowled by Carter and this brought Andy Zajac (12*) to the crease.

He and Ingram (19*) took their team to 216-6 from their 45 overs.

Ely’s opening bowler Duncan Fraser started his spell with vigour. He reduced the visitors to 12-2, claiming the wickets of both openers, Double (1) and Coe (5).

His opening partner Rich Vincett added a third as he removed Hogan for 13 as Ingram took the catch at mid-off.

The visitors then knuckled down as Ravi Dora and Basu looked to stabilise the innings. The pair added 77 for the fourth wicket with left-hander Dora striking some heavy blows on his way to 64.

After the drinks break came the key wicket of Dora who was snared lbw by Zajac with a ball that kept a touch low.

Child followed very soon after, caught at mid wicket by Zajac off the bowling of Buck – and the hosts began to regain the initiative. Camden were left in a tough position needing another 101 to win with 5 wickets down.

The pressure of dot balls eventually told as Basu (38) lofted an on-drive to Beaumont who gratefully accepted the catch off Zajac (3-38).

Khan offered some late resistance with several well-struck blows in his 34 before he was caught behind by Sellers off the bowling of Fraser.

Wallace then took a good catch low down at point to give Fraser his fourth wicket (4-38).

Camden finished on 201-9, giving Ely victory by 15 runs.

CCA Senior League 3

BALSHAM snatched the win with just three balls to spare thanks to a superb unbeaten century from opener John Barnes.

Balsham invited Fordham to bat and, after an early loss, Scott Blaber and Jordan Theobald took the score along at a reasonable rate on a damp pitch.

After a partnership of 58, Theobald went for 38 but Blaber went on to record a half-century (52) before being dismissed.

Gary Duplooy did his best to keep the score moving with 17 valuable runs but Fordham’s innings closed on a respectable 156-9.

Fordham’s opening bowlers Craig Theobald and Shoab Khan restricted Balsham to a run an over in the early stages with pace and accuracy. At the halfway stage, the visitors were way behind the required rate and the introduction into the attack of Mark Barton reduced Balsham to 72-5.

But a fine partnership of 65 between Barnes and Steve Saunders did the trick and when the latter went for 23, Barnes remained to see his side home with 103 not out, reaching his century with the winning runs.

Barton took 4-45 and Theobald and Khan conceded only 44 runs between them from their joint 24 overs – Khan claiming 2-26 and Theobald 0-18.

CCA Junior League 1N

WITCHAM duo Angus Pate and Nigel Hailstone pulled victory from the jaws of defeat against Isleham on Saturday.

Bowling first, Iain Housden was in fine fettle for Witcham as he picked up 5-30.

Angus Pate was also sharp in attack as he took 2-28. Isleham’s William Ellis and Jason Sheldrick led the way for the visitors with the bat as they hit 45 and 30 respectively.

Housden again showed good form in Witcham’s reply as he made a patient 35. He found little support from his team-mates, however, and Witcham looked to be dead and buried as they were reduced to 109-9.

Pate and captain Hailstone pulled off a remarkable victory as they put on 41 runs for the last wicket – Pate making 20 and Hailstone 27.

CCA Junior League 4N

CITY of Ely II wrapped up a solid five-wicket win over Isleham II.

After winning the toss, Ely II opted to put their hosts into bat and they quickly reaped the rewards of a damp pitch.

Bowlers Dan Coston (4-31), Steven Bone (3-20) and Mark Deas (2-27) were in relentless form and quickly reduced the hosts to 60-6.

A resolute knock of 67 from Jamie Saunders kept Isleham in the match, however, and, together with a sizeable haul of 34 extras, they posted 163 at the close.

After losing openers Mick Ticker (0) and Matthew Tonge (4), Ely were soon in trouble and were reduced to 30-5. D Fitchett 2-29 and Carl Houghton (2-42) led the Isleham attack superbly.

The arrival of Paul Dawson (66*) and Mark Higginson (68*) at the crease changed the innings however, with Ely losing no further wickets as the middle order pair guided their side to victory with seven overs to spare.

LITTLEPORT kept pace with league leaders Chippenham thanks to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Bluntisham II.

Bowling first, Littleport were in top form and had the visitors all out for just 111. They knocked off their 112-run target with the minimum of fuss, losing just two wickets in the process.

CCA Junior League 6N

FORDHAM III completed a ten-wicket victory in two-and-a-half hours against Witcham II.

Fine bowling from Johnny Poole (3-7), Faisal Shazad (2-2) in three balls, and Callum Dulwich (2-11) saw the visitors slump to 55 all out.

Openers Tom Hancock (30 not out) and George Bye (12 not out) then knocked off the runs in quick time.