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Cams Premier League Division 2

BATTING duo Gavin Harding and Mark Abbott were on top form to guide Fordham to a six-wicket win over Yaxley on Saturday.

A shaky start from the visitors, who opted to bat first, quickly saw them reduced to 52-6 as Fordham bowlers Clinton Cornwell (4-23) and Charles Forden (3-33) made hay.

A gutsy fightback from middle-order batsmen Dean Prebble (78) arrested their decline however, and ensured they passed the 150-run mark as Fordham lost some momentum.

Though opener Harding (62*) was quick to find his feet at the top of the innings, some spirited bowling from Yaxley saw the home side in some trouble at 76-4 mid-way through the innings.

Abbott’s introduction at number six changed the pattern of proceedings however, as he hit 56, including 10 boundaries, to help Fordham home.

CCA Division 1A

LITTLEPORT’S batsmen couldn’t follow up the excellent work of their bowlers as they lost out to Longstowe on Saturday.

Fielding first, Port’s attack were in excellent form and ensured that the top five batsmen managed only 40 runs between them as they turned the screw.

Andrew Berry (3-19) and Doug Marsh (3-60) led the way for a rampaging Port side and it was only a stand-out knock of 77 from Paul Murden that helped boost the visitors on to 157-8 at the close.

A disastrous start to the innings for Port’s top four batsmen saw just 15 runs scored between them and it wasn’t until Scott Connop (28) and Andrew Berry (22) arrived at the crease that the home side were able to stop the rot.

Despite the best efforts of the middle-order duo however, Port could only manage 114-8 at the close of the innings.

n WITCHAM were soundly beaten by a rampant Fordham side.

Though Angus Pate (39), Nick Jones (32*) and Nigel Pate (28) all performed well for Witcham batting first, some decent bowling from Fordham, led by debutant Richard Ferrell(2-45) and Sean Brighty (3-34), ensured they were all out for 162.

A strong start for Fordham saw them reach 72 before a wicket fell and some excellent work from Sean Brighty (40*) and Phil Wilmott (33*) quickly dampened any hopes of a fightback, as Fordham reached 163 for the loss of just three wickets.

CCA Division 2A

THE decision to bat first proved an astute one for Sutton as they scored a 83-run win over Soham.

Having won the toss, Sutton opted to make the most of the placid conditions and batted first. Though some early inroads for Soham saw the visitors reduced to 38-2, they quickly rallied and, led by Martin Cuthbertson (43) – who clattered eight boundaries – they were soon in the ascendancy.

Glenn Campbell hit 67 to further cement Sutton’s advantage and a late blast from Craig Faux (22) who hit two sixes, ensured Sutton finished on 236 at the close, albeit aided by a whopping 39 extras.

The loss of T Pauley for a duck early in Soham’s reply proved a major setback and some further good work with the ball from G Campbell (2-35) quickly saw Soham in trouble at 22-3.

Nick Mingay’s 41, including eight boundaries, provided a timely tonic for the home side but his efforts were largely in vain as few of his team-mates were able to support his good work. C Smith managed 25 and Keith Metcalfe 21 as Soham fought against the inevitable but they coulnd’t keep Sutton at bay for long, with the last wicket falling with a relatively meagre 153 runs on the board.

Debutant Dan Mason picked up 3-27 for the visitors, with Ren Barnard (2-16) and Eddie Bowles (2-28) enjoying some success.

SUPER bowling from Little Downham’s pace attack saw them overcome Chatteris on Saturday.

Peter Baker hit 52 at the top of the order for Downham as they opted to bat first, and his good work was followed up by Ryan Duffield who managed 40 in the middle-order for the home side.

Useful cameos of 18 and 16 from Nigel King and James White respectively helped bolster the tail end of the innings and Downham eventually reached 167-6 at the close.

A reasonable start from Downham’s bowlers reduced Chatteris to 36-2 early in the piece before a middle-order fightback saw them push on past 50.

With the game finely balanced, however, pace trio Duffield (3-32), White (3-23) and T Connolly (3-20) wrestled control back for the home side in superb fashion.

Chatteris’s last wicket fell with 130 on the board.

CCA Division 3A

IAN Jacobs enjoyed an excellent spell with the ball to help Haddenham to a three-wicket win over Ely II.

Bowling first, Haddenham found wickets hard to come by early on as Michael Sellers (49) and Mark Deas (35) impressed.

The introduction of Jacobs into the mix quickly changed matters however, as the seasoned paceman picked up 5-34 to turn the innings on its head.

Though Eliot Koopowitz did weigh in with 24 in the middle-order for Ely, the home side weren’t able to keep Haddenham at bay for long as Neil Smith (2-15) and James Money (2-30) also began to find form.

Young Keiran Grainger (1-4) took the last wicket as Ely were bowled out for 150.

Ely’s Nigel Hailstone (2-31) and Mark Deas (2-31) bowled well early to keep Ely in the hunt for the points but the arrival of Gary Thistlethwaite at the crease proved a turning point as the batsmen smashed an undefeated 69 to put Haddenham in control.

John Lee (28*) supported well for the visitors, as did Adam Clow (19), as Haddenham reached their target with three wickets to spare.

AN excellent effort with both bat and ball by Lee Newton set Wilburton on the road to a crushing seven-wicket win over St Ives.

Bowling first, Wilburton’s start to the match was an indifferent one, with Ives openers Dan Stevens (31) and Matt Wilson (22) pushing the score past 50 before the first wicket eventually fell.

With the opening pair dismissed however, the momentum of the innings quickly shifted Wilburton’s way as Newton (4-36) hit his stride.

Some able support play from Stuart Marshall (2-27) boosted the visitors’ cause and it was only an obstinate innings from J Wood (14) that kept Wilburton from wrapping up the innings in double quick time.

Ives were eventually restricted to 131-9 at the close.

A useful knock of 40 at the top of the order from Stuart Buller ensured Wilburton shot out of the blocks and a mammoth knock of 71 from Newton- which included nine boundaries - helped seal the win with more than 10 overs to spare.

CCA Division 4A

FORDHAM III won another nail-biting encounter as they scraped home with their last pair at the crease.

Nick Clark took 5-26 in Abbott’s Ripton’s 137-9, though the visitors were 80-2 at one stage.

Ian Baldwin (20) Andy Skinner (19) and Miles Neal (17) all made useful contributions to Fordham’s reply but it was young Alex Theobold’s 50 that held the innings together to lead Fordham to victory.

CCA Sunday League

LITTLEPORT seemed dead and buried on Sunday after being bowled out for just 78 runs by Narborough.

An amazing fight-back with the ball turned the match on its head however, and saw Port emerge with an eight-run victory.

Batting first, there was little to cheer for the home side as Narborough delivered a bowling masterclass.

Joe Murfitt managed 17 and Scott Connop hit 15 before Port finally succumbed for 78.

The best was yet to come though, as Port’s bowlers, led by Liam Heaps (3-11) and Andrew Berry (2-16), produced an even better bowling display to topple Narborough for just 70 runs.