Fowler’s nines-and-easy in Sawtry win

HUNTS LEAGUE

SAWTRY’S Andy Fowler left the field a hero at Upwood on Saturday after returning match figures of 9-15 in his 12-over spell.

His haul set a bowling record for the club, beating Brian Chapman’s mark of 9-25.

Only the third wicket evaded Fowler’s capture, as team-mates Ruari Clark and James Wright combined to deny their team-mate a clean sweep.

Fowler’s bowling saw Upwood dismissed for 65, and his team-mates did the business with the bat to romp to a seven-wicket win.

Division One high-flyers Huntingdon made short work of basement boys Old Estonians when they visited Rockingham Castle at the weekend.

The home batsmen could hardly get their pads on quick enough as they were dismissed for just 70, with Huntingdon’s Hassan Akhtar (5-15) starring with the ball.

Huntingdon, who lost two wickets in reply, took only nine overs to secure the win.

Any hope that Alconbury would overturn second-placed Ufford Park vanished as the home side slumped to a 35-run defeat.

Father-and-son duo Richard and Dexter Ewing had stifled the visitors with three wickets apiece in a final total of 174-9 but poor batting saw the hosts dismissed for 139, with only Dexter Ewing (55no) making the game look easy.

Elsewhere, Huntingdon seconds had less luck, losing to Eaton Socon seconds by six wickets.

Huntingdon totalled a respectable 177 with Phil Wright (59) and Adam Newman (5-66) leading the bowling attack. Eaton wrapped up the runs in 39 overs thanks to Bob Nicklin (95no).

Huntingdon thirds saw off the challenge of their Warboys counterparts, who collapsed in spectacular fashion to 80 all out.

Alastair George (5-14) was the star bowler as Warboys lost their last six wickets for just one run. Zubair Maqsood (31) led the reply as Huntingdon romped home at 84-4.

Warboys seconds reached 201-7 against Upwood with Daniel Hyde (46) topping the batting stakes. Steve Tuffin (55) and Jamie Hutchcraft (49) needed more support as Upwood fell to 176 all out.

Ryan Brown (37) led Eaton Socon to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Orton Park. Shane de Silva (5-18) had earlier destroyed the Park batting as they rolled over for 128.

Steady batting down the line-up saw Ramsey seconds reach 177 all out against Waresley seconds with Peter Colebrook (4-39) the pick of the bowlers. Waresley offered little in reply as they totalled 129 all out.

Houghton & Wyton recorded a win from a one-sided game against Bigglewade in Division Two. Greg Andrell (83) and Josh Meadows (71) laid the foundations of a massive 289 all out and bowler Terry Armstrong (4-29) made sure of an early finish as Biggleswade succumbed to 104 all out.

CCA JUNIOR LEAGUE

RAMSEY had James Markland (54) to thank – along with 40 extras – as they totalled 201 against Nassington.

Michael Kay (5-36) made life tough for the Nassington batsmen as Ramsey took the spoils with an 80-run victory.

Godmanchester’s final total of 167 at Sawston looked vulnerable as the hosts reached 62-2 but Joe Dawborn (4-23) and great support bowling turned the game and left the hosts 28 runs short of victory in the run chase.

Godmanchester seconds found Yaxley too strong as they made 164-8. James Howell (40) received little support in the reply as Godmanchester were dismissed for 135.

Needingworth continued their charge for promotion with another fine win against a struggling Soham side in Cambs 2A.

After slumping to 29-4 Mark Sirot-Smith (86no) and Simon McCarthy (43) led the recovery with a fifth-wicket stand of 91 that helped the final total reach a very useful 189-6.

Mohsin Khurshid (5-30) then ripped the heart out of the Soham batting, who did well to reach 102 all out.

News that both Sutton and Pymoor had been beaten put the icing on a day that saw Needingworth up to second in the table with three games to play.

Matthew Rawlings (151no) was in fine form for Waresley against Fulbourn and, with support from the rest of the top order, Waresley declared at 265-3 to give themselves an extra two overs to bowl the hosts out.

But dreams of a win turned sour as the Waresley bowlers were put to the sword.

Making use of the extra overs on offer the Fulbourn batsmen charged to 266-4 to record an unexpected win.

RUTLAND LEAGUE

EATON Socon recorded an eight-wicket win over Oakham, who batted first to record 194-8.

Eaton reached the target in just 33 overs with Jonny Carpenter (106no) and Joe Dawborn (55no) supplying the fireworks.

The Warboys batting trio of Sam Latchford (39), Steve Hill (38) and Matt Duncan (36no) saw their side to 172 against Kimbolton & Catworth.

Kim had little to offer in reply with only Samuel Roberts (52) leaving his mark on a final total of 119.

COUNTY CRICKET

THE County U25 Development team recorded a good win and narrow defeat, as Norfolk were well beaten and Essex edged a high-scoring match.

Against Norfolk, Christaan Le Roux (3-17) took the plaudits and each of the other five Huntingdonshire bowlers were among the wickets as Norfolk totalled a poor 139 all out.

Ashley Rodgers (49no) and Le Roux (45) led the charge to a Huntingdonshire win in just 25 overs.

Essex proved a tougher test at Billericay but Huntingdonshire players made sure the first-class county didn’t get things their own way.

Put in to bat, Essex were rocking at 42-3 but a stand of 140 for the fourth wicket by skipper Harry Ramsden and Rehan Hassan rescued the show.

Damage in the final 10 overs resulted in Hunts conceding 112 runs and skipper Ramsden (141) was last man out, �having battered the Huntingdonshire attack around the park to see his team to 295-5.

Any thoughts that Hunts would throw in the towel were soon dispelled as Michael Cafferkey (65) and Richard Atherton (45) opened the reply in style.

Le Roux (73) came in at three and, with Rodgers (42), continued the run chase.

With an exciting climax in prospect, Essex spinner James Ellis-Grewell (7-32) spoiled the party to leave Hunts on 274-9.

The U17 team lifted the County Championship League 2B after winning three of their four matches.

The only blemish on their way to the top of the league was a defeat to Scotland.

Norfolk also ended their campaign on the same number of points but Huntingdonshire took the title on the head-to-head record.

The important final game against Cambs saw Hunts dismiss their neighbours for 191 and then reach 331-9.

Captain Robert Sayer (129) declared and Cambs crawled to 55-0 in their second innings, leaving Hunts winners by an innings and 85 runs.