ELY bowler Chris Reay claimed six wickets in an outstanding display against Yelling on Saturday.

The seamer decimated the visitors’ batting lineup with 12 overs of hostile pace bowling that played a crucial role in seeing the promotion hopefuls dismissed for just 77, a total Ely’s batsmen knocked off with ease.

The win moves Ely out of the CCA Senior League 2 drop zone, with a cushion of more than three average points separating them with relegation threatened Doddington.

Yelling’s Brian Topham was the first to fall for the visitors batting first, with Reay trapping him lbw for just 12.

Reay’s opening partner Ben Storey was also in on the act early as he nipped in with two quick wickets - Alan Johnson (2) and Sam Johnson (20) - to leave Yelling reeling.

A strong middle order has seen Yelling chalk up seven wins from 12 games this season, but they proved no match for Reay’s continued onslaught, as he claimed another five wickets for just 34 runs to leave Yelling in dire straights.

Storey struck again before the end of the innings, taking the wicket of Richard Mead (6) to end up with 3-42 from his 12 overs while Andrew Zajac also weighed in with a wicket.

Ely gloveman M Hatcher claimed three cathches behind the stumps to cap a fine performance all round for Ely.

Requiring less than two runs-per-over for the win, Ely opener Thomas Beaumont made steady progress as he hit 26 runs from 62 deliveries, including two boundaries.

Though Matthew Tonge fell for a duck, having failed to score from 13 difficult deliveries, number three Hatcher quickly made amends by smashing 45 runs, including five boundaries, in 57 balls.

Hatcher remained at the crease undefeated with Jonny Wallace (5*) as Ely picked up an eight-wicket victory.