WITCHAM kept hot on the heels of the league’s top-two teams with a slender three-wicket win over Little Downham on Saturday.

An strong performance with the ball helped set the platform for Witcham’s batsmen, who stepped in to complete a much-needed win, albeit with a few wobbles on the way as Downham fought hard to avoid their eighth defeat this season.

The win for Witcham keeps them poised in third place in Division 1A, just two average points away from usurping Bottisham and Lode. Downham meanwhile, remain rooted to the foot of the table, without a win to their name this season.

The host’s young bowling trio, Angus Pate (3-16), Iain Housden (2-32) and Edward George (2-14), led the attack superbly against their experienced opponents, seeing Little Downham bowled out for a modest 118.

After a rocky start, the visitors’ James White (24) and Dave Cutforth (18) helped add an air of respectability to the score as they top scored in a difficult innings for the league’s basement boys.

Despite dominating with the ball, Witcham didn’t have it all their own way with the bat and an excellent fight back led by White (3-19) and Stan Martin (3-29) soon had the hosts pegged at 56-6 and in some trouble.

The arrival of Pate and Jamie Lawrence to the crease changed the momentum of the match, however, the duo notching 35 not out and 25 respectively to pull Witcham clear of danger and on to victory.

There was no such luck for Witcham on Sunday however, as they lost out to Doddington by 26 runs in the Fenland Trophy.

The visitors posted 142 from their overs, a relatively meagre target for Witcham to chase. It proved a bridge too far for Witcham’s youngsters however, as they were promptly bowled out for just 116.