The Cambs & Hunts Premier League title battle will go down to the final day of the season – and Eaton Socon are one of four teams who could still be crowned Whiting & Partners Division One champions.
Jonny Carpenter’s side kept their faint title hopes alive with a 43-run triumph against fellow locals Kimbolton yesterday – a result which left their rock-bottom opponents on the brink of relegation.
Captain Carpenter starred with an impressive 91 as Eaton Socon reached 226-7. Joe Dawborn (47) fell just short of a quickfire half-century while Adam White batted patiently for a useful 35.
Skipper Jason Redinger hit 70 – featuring in a 113-run partnership with opener Marcus Wilkinson (34) for the second wicket – as Kimbolton managed 183-9 in reply.
Wade Lezar and Ben Gowling bagged three wickets apiece for Eaton Socon who were unable to shift the stubborn final Kimbolton pair of Martin Moore and Fraser Hutton as they survived the final three overs.
It meant Eaton Socon had to settle for a haul of 25 points which leaves them 21 behind new leaders Foxton, who triumphed at Waresley yesterday.
Previous pacesetters Sawston & Babraham dropped to second place after losing at third-placed Saffron Walden.
Eaton Socon now host Sawston & Babraham next Saturday with Foxton going to Saffron Walden in a thrilling conclusion to the campaign.
Foxton won by 64 runs at Waresley yesterday after piling up 245-4 – an innings featuring an unbeaten 100 from Craig Park.
Stand-in skipper Dominic Farr hit 50 as Waresley got to 181-7 in reply with Ashwin Reddy adding 32.
Second-bottom Waresley sit 14 points clear of basement side Kimbolton ahead of the final round of fixtures. Waresley go to March while Kimbolton visit Wisbech.
Elsewhere yesterday Ramsey’s losing run continued with a five-wicket reverse at Wisbech in a rain-shortened contest.
Michael Cafferkey (47) and Jon Cade (42) were the biggest contributors with the bat as Ramsey amassed 187-9 from their 30 overs.
Cafferkey later claimed 3-43 with the ball but it wasn’t enough to prevent the hosts from easing to victory with a couple of overs to spare.
Young prospect Jack Ranganathan hit a first half-century at Whiting & Partners Division Two level for St Ives yesterday.
Ranganathan (53no) carried his bat as the local side eased to a six-wicket triumph at rock-bottom Great Shelford.
Nick Kumpukkal also added an unbeaten 51 as St Ives made light work of bettering their lowly hosts’ posting of 182-9.
Huntingdon & District were also successful at that level as they saw off Stamford by 25 runs at St Peters Road.
Craig Leigh was responsible for 63 of the town side’s total of 156 before Graham Hudson (3-21) led a fine bowling effort to dismiss the visitors for 131.
Huntingdon & District host St Ives in a local derby to complete the campaign on Saturday.
CAMBS & HUNTS PREMIER LEAGUE
Whiting & Partners Division One
EATON SOCON beat KIMBOLTON by 43 runs
Eaton Socon 226-7 (J. Carpenter 91, J. Dawborn 47, A. White 35, C. Gallagher 3-57).
Kimbolton 183-9 (J. Redinger 70, M. Wilkinson 34, B. Gowling 3-42, W. Lezar 3-44).
WARESLEY lost to FOXTON by 64 runs
Foxton 245-4.
Waresley 181-7 (D. Farr 50, A. Reddy 32).
WISBECH beat RAMSEY by 5 wkts
Ramsey 187-9 (M. Cafferkey 47, J. Cade 42).
Wisbech 188-5 (M. Cafferkey 3-43).
Whiting & Partners Division Two
GREAT SHELFORD lost to ST IVES by 6 wkts
Great Shelford 182-9.
St Ives 183-4 (J. Ranganathan 53no, N. Kumpukkal 51no).
HUNTINGDON & DISTRICT beat STAMFORD by 25 runs
Huntingdon & District 156 (C. Leigh 63).
Stamford 131 (G. Hudson 3-21).
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