The latest cricket action from around the county scene

HUNTS COUNTY LEAGUE

HOPES of a promotion push for Huntingdon from Division One were boosted by their decent seven-wicket win at Waresley seconds on Saturday.

Batting first the hosts were soon in trouble at 15-3, but a century stand between Simon Blows (58) and Chris Pierce (53) set Huntingdon 172 to win.

And it was a target they achieved with 10 overs to spare, with Nick Kumpukkul 62 and Craig Leigh’s unbeaten 73 seeing them home.

A fourth defeat in five Division One games was suffered by Eaton Socon on Saturday as they went down to a three-wicket reverse at Barnack.

Eaton wasted a good start, slipping from 95-1 to 159 all out.

Adam Newman (4-30) was the standout bowler for Socon as they made a decent fist of it with the ball – but it wasn’t enough.

Warboys, meanwhile, made just 64 with the bat as they went down to a six-wicket defeat against Old Eastonians.

In other action, losing wickets at regular intervals proved to be Alconbury’s downfall as they lost out by eight runs at home against Orton Park.

Replying to the visitors’ 133-9 off 45 overs Alconbury, despite a brisk start, were bowled out for 125 with two overs to spare.

Houghton and Wyton beat Nassington by eight runs in a nail-biter to earn their fourth Division Two win of the season.

Having been asked to bat on a tricky track after the overnight rain, Pete Waughman top scored with 49 as Houghton scored a very creditable 210-8 off their 45 overs.

The hosts then soon had Nassington in trouble, Chris Mastin taking 5-34 as the visitors were reduced to 128-9.

A fantastic 74-run partnership for the last wicket moved Nassington to within nine runs of a stunning victory comeback, but Houghton finally bagged the last wicket and bowled their opponents out for 202.

In Division Three, Huntingdon seconds’ struggles continue after they went down to a narrow two-wicket reverse against Blunham seconds.

Put in on a wet wicket, Huntingdon were all out for 146.

In reply Blunham were 10-3 at one stage but scrambled home despite 3-25 from Freddy Khan as the wicket dried out rapidly.

Ryan Worboys (5-37) inspired Eaton seconds to a five-wicket home win over Warboys seconds.

The bowler’s five-wicket haul restricted Warboys to 128 before an unbeaten 51 from Chris Dickerson steered Eaton home.

Half centuries from Ian Purser (66no) and Andrew Watts (51) guided Brampton to a seven-wicket home victory over Upwood seconds in Division Four.

Having won the toss and decided to bat, the visitors were bowled out for 133 – opener Scott Rodgers’ quickfire 45 leading way – although Peter Boardman’s 4-35 restricted them.

In reply, Brampton reached their target for the loss of three wickets.

Josh Burgess’ first century for Sawtry seconds inspired them to a 23-run win at Eaton Socon thirds in Division Four.

He hammered 12 fours and two sixes in his 130 to help Sawtry to 241-5.

Ian Bonsell then starred with the ball, taking 5-32 as Eaton, despite 71 at the top of the order from Bob Nicklin, were all out for 218.

Little Paxton achieved a league double over Hilton in Division Five with a 16-run victory.

Electing to bat, Paxton struggled to 149 all out with Dave Perry providing the backbone to the innings with 58.

Hilton started their reply strongly and looked to be closing in on a comfortable win.

But wickets began to fall with Adam Long (5-21) the main tormentor ensuring that the hosts were all out for 133.

TUCKER PREMIER

JOE Dawborn (4-21) and Paul Jefferson (4-39) ripped the heart out of Ickwell’s batting line-up as Godmanchester cruised to an eight-wicket victory in Division One.

The hosts bowled out for 79, before skipper Matt Pateman (40) helped Goddy to a comfortable victory.

St Ives and Ramsey played out a stalemate while in Division Two, second placed Waresley were 71-run winners at Yaxley.

Meanwhile Jamie Rice (5-55) was the star of the show as Godmanchester seconds drew with Babraham.

CCA SENIOR LEAGUE

MID-TABLE Somersham recorded a 33-run victory at Isleham on Saturday with opener Ben Austin striking 54.

The visitors posted 202-9 from their 45 overs before Darren Jessop led the way with the ball, collecting 3-38, as the home side finished their innings on 169-9.

Isleham had looked in a decent position at 87-1 but a brilliant catch from captain Rob Smith and a later run out by Pete Coleman swung the game in Somersham’s favour.

CCA JUNIOR LEAGUE

ROCK-BOTTOM Fenstanton once again threw away a promising position before crashing to a four-wicket loss by Cambridge St Giles seconds in Division 3B – their seventh consecutive defeat.

Openers Mike Piaggesi (48) and Mark Everest (73) smashed 98 off 12 overs but an almighty collapse saw Fenstanton all out for 166.

Brett Logue (4-40) then did his best with the ball, but the damage had already been done.

In 2A, Needingworth’s upturn in fortunes continued with a hard-fought 34-run victory at Little Downham.

The visitors put 117 on the board, but Glenn Morris (3-4) helped ensure the hosts could muster just 83 in reply.

RUTLAND LEAGUE

A CLOSE game between Eaton Socon and Ufford Park in Division Two went the way of the latter by one wicket with two balls to spare.

Eaton had made 207-8 then, despite the best efforts of Siva Nalliyannan (4-38), Ufford’s last-wicket pair edged over the line.

Alconbury achieved a tremendous five-wicket victory at Oakham in Division Six on Sunday.

The hosts, batting first, set a challenging 252-4 off their allotted 45 overs and, in reply, Alconbury got off to a fine start with openers Dave Cotton (61) and Martin Ruff (42) posting a century stand.

It was then left to Ryan Tyler who blazed his way to 71 not out – ably supported by Aaron Magee (24) – as the visitors finished superbly on 253-5.

Elsewhere, Warboys seconds were 48-run winners over their Hampton counterparts.

Martin Croucher top scored with 47 in the hosts’ 155 all out and that was enough as Jake Tingey took 5-10 from his 10 overs as Hampton could only muster 107.

MIDWEEK CRICKET

THE first two matches in the inaugural Huntingdon and District CC Twenty20 Cup were played in midweek.

Huntingdon, posting 115 all out, were 53-run winners over Warboys, who were shot out for just 62.

Adrian Rose (3-17) and Shalinder Ranaut (3-11) were on song for Huntingdon while M Lavender (4-14) had earlier done his bit for Warboys.

In game two, Matthew Aldwinckle (33) top scored as Kimbolton were 109 all out against Waresley, Terry Hayden collecting 4-22.

Waresley knocked of the runs inside 12 overs, thanks largely to Daniel Swajzbak’s unbeaten 59.

COUNTY CRICKET

THE Hunts county side completed their five-match friendly schedule with a six-wicket victory against Middlesex Academy at Clare College, Cambridge on Sunday.

Liam La Roux top scored with 103 while opener Chris Budd scored 52 in Hunts 211-4, replying to Middlesex’s 210 all out, La Roux, Joe Dawborn and Chethan William each collecting three wickets.

At U25 level, the county’s defence of their East of England Development Competition crown started badly – with a three-wicket loss against Lincolnshire at Market Deeping.