CRICKET ROUND-UP Tucker Premier League NCI 211-5, Fordham 125 NCI won by 86 runs FORDHAM S opening to the Tucker Premier League season appears to be a repeat of last year s early fortunes. Despite a spell of mainly favourable weather, Fordham have seen tw

CRICKET ROUND-UP

Tucker Premier League

NCI 211-5, Fordham 125

NCI won by 86 runs

FORDHAM'S opening to the Tucker Premier League season appears to be a repeat of last year's early fortunes.

Despite a spell of mainly favourable weather, Fordham have seen two games called off because of wet conditions and in their other match they were beaten by Cambridge side NCI.

Fordham kept a tight rein on the early part of NCI's innings, but the last eight overs produced 73 runs.

This enabled the visitors to record a total of 211-5 from their allotted 48 overs.

Chris Rule was Fordham's most successful bowler, taking 3-25 from 10 overs.

Fordham began steadily in reply but then added 64 runs between the 10th and 20th overs to put themselves way ahead of the run rate.

Somehow, however, they lost their way in disastrous fashion as six wickets fell for 30 and the home side were bowled out for 125 with an amazing 18 overs left of their innings.

Scott Blaber made 32 and Darren Theobald 27.

Friendly

Welney Croft 116,

Castor and Ailsworth III 119-5

Castor and Ailsworth III won by five wickets

AFTER losing both openers cheaply, the Welney pair of Stephen Kent and Stuart Singleterry both looked set for good innings, but it all fell apart after they went.

Singleterry hit two sixes and three fours in 24 before retiring hurt and Kent was caught at slip for 14.

Thereafter, only a last-wicket stand of 29 by Sean Smyth and captain John Loveday - who hit four fours - took the score to 116.

With Castor at 36-4 in reply, Welney looked in with a chance, with Goodger (2-37) and Birch (2-27) bowling well. They never looked lke making enough inroads, however, and Castor won with five wickets and 11 overs to spare.