A LACK of fire-power with the bat saw the City of Ely 1st XI fall some 55 runs short of their target against a clinical Cottenham side. Asked to bowl first, Ely made light work of the Cottenham line-up with the express pace of Andrew Foster causing panic

A LACK of fire-power with the bat saw the City of Ely 1st XI fall some 55 runs short of their target against a clinical Cottenham side.

Asked to bowl first, Ely made light work of the Cottenham line-up with the express pace of Andrew Foster causing panic among the home batsmen, eventually seeing them capitulate to 146 all out.

Such was the devastating impact of Foster's bowling that he took six wickets for 34 runs, a world beating average of a little more than five.

It was with the bat that Ely's problems began though, as, after a fairly solid opening from the top three batsmen, the middle order gave way and regular wickets saw the team bowled for just 91.

There was better news for the 2nd XI meanwhile, as they recovered from a ominous dose of the wobbles to record a comfortable five wicket win over Fenstanton.

Mark Deas and Nigel Hailstone led the line for Ely with the ball as their Trojan like efforts were rewarded with excellent returns of (4-25) and (4-31) respectively.

Needing just 111 for victory, Ely struggled to get a foot hold and threatened to capitulate as easily as their opponents. The arrival of Kevin Felton and Mick Tickner at the crease however, heralded a spell of inspired recovery that steered the visitors to victory with no further losses.