James Sykes continued his terrific return to the Cambs & Hunts Premier League scene as Godmanchester Town tormented Waresley last Saturday.
Matt Durrant’s men climbed into second place in Whiting & Partners Division One after seeing off their struggling visitors by 179 runs at The Parks.
Former skipper Paul Swannell (75no) and Amit Gupta (65) were classy performers with the bat as Godmanchester amassed 222-8 – but it was with the ball that they really excelled as Waresley were sent packing for a paltry 43.
Former Leicestershire spinner Sykes finished with the extraordinary figures of 5-8 from seven overs – five of which were maidens - while Elliott Baldwin chipped in with 3-6.
Sykes is the leading wicket-taker in the top-flight after already snaring 19 victims for the concession of just 62 runs in five appearances.
Opening bowlers James Cowan and James Dean also claimed a victim apiece as only two Waresley men – Rob Lowin (15) and Sam Johnson (11) reached double-figures.
Godmanchester now face a top-of-the-table showdown at unbeaten leaders Saffron Walden this Saturday.
Fellow title contenders Eaton Socon suffered a first defeat of the season when going down by 38 runs at Histon last weekend.
The high-scoring home side piled up 306-7 with Eaton Socon reaching 268 before their reply was ended.
Overseas ace Wade Lezar hit a quickfire half-century – 54 off 39 balls – while youngster Ollie Jefferies added a smart 43 as Eaton Socon came up short. Joe Dawborn also cracked 37 off 24 balls after earlier taking 3-61.
Kimbolton remain at the foot of the Division One standings after a difficult return to this level continued last Saturday.
They were beaten by seven wickets at Sawston & Babraham after their total of 176-4 proved insufficient.
There were positive signs, though. South African skipper Jason Redinger hit an unbeaten 85 while Sam Malton fell one run short of a half-century.
Huntingdon & District continued their fine upturn in form with a third successive Whiting & Partners Division Two triumph.
The local side eased to a three-wicket success at Cambridge Granta 2nds last Saturday when eclipsing their hosts’ offering of 173.
Martin Burton was the pick of their bowlers with 4-23 – a haul which included Granta dangerman Sasha Abbasi, who fell to a fine Zubair Maqsood catch for 54.
Huntingdon & District captain Navid Ahmed mopped up the Granta tail to finish with 3-24 before opener Faisal Javed top-scored with 34 in their successful reply.
Burton (26) and Shaz Imran (23) also made valuable contributions before Sheraz Ali and Wakus Mahmud saw their side home.
St Ives were involved in a thrilling tie at Cambridge St Giles which came complete with a dramatic conclusion.
The home side needed two runs from the final ball to better St Ives’ posting of 226 and claim victory.
But wicket-keeper Mark Askew produced a brilliant leg-side stumping to dismiss Junaid Sheikh, although Michael Speed’s wicket-taking delivery was judged a wide by the umpire.
Youngsters Jack Ranganathan (44) and Matthew Wells (32) were the pick of the St Ives batsmen while Shaun Asplin (3-32) was their most successful bowler.
CAMBS & HUNTS PREMIER LEAGUE
Whiting & Partners Division One
GODMANCHESTER TOWN bet WARESLEY by 179 runs
Godmanchester Tn 222-8 (P. Swannell 75no, A. Gupta 65, N. Buckingham-Jones 3-49, R. Lowin 3-54).
Waresley 43 (J. Sykes 5-8, E. Baldwin 3-6).
HISTON beat EATON SOCON by 38 runs
Histon 306-7 (J. Dawborn 3-61).
Eaton Socon 268 (W. Lezar 54, O. Jefferies 43, J. Dawborn 37, M. Rawling 34).
SAWSTON & BABRAHAM beat KIMBOLTON by 7 wkts
Kimbolton 176-4 (J. Redinger 85no, S. Malton 49).
Sawston & Babraham 179-3.
Whiting & Partners Division Two
CAMBRIDGE GRANTA 2NDS lost to HUNTINGDON & DISTRICT by 3 wkts
Cambridge Granta 2nds 173 (M. Burton 4-23, N. Ahmed 3-24).
Huntingdon & District 174-7 (F. Javed 34).
CAMBRIDGE ST GILES tied with ST IVES
St Ives 226 (J. Ranganathan 44, M. Wells 32, R. Greiller 30).
Cambridge St Giles 226 (S. Asplin 3-32).
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here