LOCAL cricket powerhouses Witcham, got their season off to a reliably strong start with victories for both their first and second teams. An impossibly ruthless batting performance from the first team allowed them to score a crushing 132 run victory over N

LOCAL cricket powerhouses Witcham, got their season off to a reliably strong start with victories for both their first and second teams.

An impossibly ruthless batting performance from the first team allowed them to score a crushing 132 run victory over Needingworth as they posted 284 from their 40 overs, a frenzied scoring rate of more than seven runs per over.

Though the top three batsmen shared less than twenty runs between them number four Andy Sharp soon steadied the ship and his 70 combined with 67 not out from Tyler Phillips, ensured Needingworth had a mountain to climb.

Despite their lofty score, the victory was not secure for Witcham and it took a measured performance from a strong bowling attack to seal the victory, Tyler Phillips impressing with figures of 3-18, a McGrath-like average of just 10.

There was success also for Glen Griffiths who took 2-16 from his five over spell.

A solid early season performance from the second team meanwhile, saw them secure a six wicket victory at St Ives 3rd XI as they chased down a modest 141 run target for the loss of just four wickets.

Despite a useful start by the St Ives top order, a lack of mettle in their middle order was all too readily exposed by a rampaging Mike Spencer who picked up match wining figures of 5-51 to hand Witcham an eminently chase-able target of 141.

There was no mistake from the Witcham top order as they knocked off their target with 10 overs to spare. Callum Steel took the batting honours as he finished 37 not out to do his early season average a world of good.