A round-up of the weekend’s cricket action from around Huntingdonshire

SOMERSHAM

EIGHT wickets from eight overs for Pete Coleman inspired Somersham to their first CCA Senior 3 victory of the season – by 45 runs – in a low scoring game against Dullingham.

Somersham were thankful for a fine 44 from Ben Austin as wickets fell around him in their 127 all out.

And, when Dullingham put on 51 for the first wicket, it looked as though they were cruising to a comfortable win. But the introduction of Coleman (8-3-11-8) sparked an almighty batting collapse to be all out for 82.

In the CCA Twenty20, Somersham (117-3) were seven-wicket winners over NCI II (113 all out) with Aled David’s unbeaten 52 off just 35 balls leading Somersham home with 22 balls to spare.

ALCONBURY

A CENTURY opening stand from Paul Suckling (50) and Richard Willcock (62) helped ease Alconbury to a seven-wicket win over Huntingdon in Hunts 1.

Huntingdon had earlier raced to 70 off the first 10 overs, but were restricted to a final total of 168 all out, after some tight bowling from Richard Ewing and Neil Suckling with three wickets apiece.

Then the batting duo’s solid partnership helped see Alconbury to victory with 169 for the loss of three wickets with nearly four overs to spare.

In Rutland 6, there was a nail-biting win for Alconbury seconds over Castor seconds, with the winning runs being scored in the penultimate over the match.

Replying to Castor’s 179-8 off 45 overs, Alconbury snuck home with one wicket to spare with Dextor Ewing (45) capping a fine all-round performance, having earlier taken three wickets.

At junior level, the U13s beat holders Dean by three-wickets to make it through to the semi-finals of the Hunts Cup.

ABBOTS RIPTON

LEADERS Abbots Ripton are still top of CCA 4A after beating Doddington seconds convincingly by 90 runs.

Jerry Hyde (46) top scored in Abbots’ 173 while Lee Bailey (4-20) starred with the ball as the visitors were skittled out for just 83.

LITTLE PAXTON

A GOOD start to the season was maintained by Paxton as they enjoyed a comfortable win against Hilton in Hunts 5.

Batting first, Little Paxton amassed a daunting total of 287-7 with Dan Jenkins (170) the pick of the batsmen.

In response Hilton steadily lost wickets and were all out for 139 with Ian McMurray taking 3-34.

HOUGHTON & WYTON

AN excellent opening spell of bowling from Terry Armstrong (5-58) and Simon Wales (3-32) inspired Houghton & Wyton to a five-wicket defeat of AK XI in Hunts 2.

The pair helped reduce the hosts to 202 all out and Houghton reached their target for the loss of five wickets with Greg Andrell (45) top scoring.

HUNTINGDON

A DRAMATIC last-ball win was almost achieved by Huntingdon thirds over Khalsa seconds in Hunts 5 – but they fell agonisingly short by three runs.

Needing 22 off the last over, Dan Coles clubbed 19 – including two massive sixes as they finished on 271-8 in reply to Khalsa’s 274.

Nik Kumpukkal (3-27) was the pick of the Hunts bowlers, with Craig Leigh taking an impressive six catches in the field.

GODMANCHESTER

SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD Elliot Cafferkey was the unlikely Godmanchester hero as he, in tandom with skipper Matt Pateman, led their side to a fourth consecutive Tucker 1 victory at Foxton.

The pair added an unbeaten seventh-wicket partnership of 59 runs with Cafferkey (36no) outscoring his skipper, who finished on 62no to guide the side to a four-wicket win.

Goddy were replying to Foxton’s 216 all out, with Joe Dawborn collecting four victims.

EATON SOCON

IT’S now three wins in a row in Hunts 1 for Eaton Socon after their last-over win against Waresley seconds.

Batting first, Waresley made 185-6 thanks to a quick 34 not out by Jamie Fensome at the end of the innings, after another fine spell from Asama Weerasekara (3-34) with the ball.

Eaton then reached target for loss of eight wickets with five balls to spare thanks to captain Terry Day’s 59 not out.

In Rutland cricket, Eaton suffered a 39-run reverse against Orton Park as, replying to Orton’s 176-6, they fell to 137 out all out.

Socon seconds, meanwhile, lost out to Weldon in Rutland Six as they fell 18 runs short despite good knocks from Macaulay Clark (78) and Simon Cooper (50).

Earlier, Weldon made 220-5, Joe Donnelly and Dan Newman both collecting a couple of wickets apiece.

FENSTANTON

A FIGHT against relegation from Division 3B of the Cambs Junior League already looks on the cards for Fenstanton after their run of defeats continued with a 68-run loss to near-neighbours Elsworth.

Fenstanton were left to rue three dropped catches in their opponents’ 224-6 and fell short in reply, being bowled out for 156, with Brett Logue (36) getting a start.

A clash with fellow early strugglers Ramsey Town this weekend now awaits Fenstanton.

WARBOYS

A NARROW one-wicket defeat was suffered by Warboys against Ufford Park in Hunts 1 while, two divisions lower, there was better luck for the under-strength seconds as they defeated Huntingdon seconds by six wickets.

Nathan Pond (56) got the hosts past three-figures but some good bowling from Connor Withers (4-20) ensured they didn’t get beyond 110 in just 21 overs.

In reply Warboys got to the target fairly comfortably for the loss of just four wickets, with Withers (38) making the most of the fast dry outfield and hitting all but two of his runs in fours.

The thirds, meanwhile, lost out to Buckden seconds by two wickets in Hunts 5 as, chasing 150 to win, the visitors reached their target for the loss of eight wickets in 39.5 overs.

In Rutland 5, Warboys won by four wickets at Barnack CC.

Alex Grange took 4-22 off 10 overs in the hosts’ 123 not out and the winning target was reached for the loss of six wickets.

In midweek action, Warboys lost out in their Christmas Cup quarter-final clash against Ramsey seconds by six wickets.

Warboys, batting first, were only able to score 133 in their 20 overs as Ramsey’s Nick Page did the damage with 6-22 in 5.2 overs.

Ramsey replied with 137 to pass Warboys’ score with a few balls to spare, James Markland making 55. Warboys’ captain James Trafford redeemed his earlier duck, by taking 3-28 in four overs.

At junior level, Warboys U13s defeated Sawtry by two-wickets in a low-scoring game in Hunts County Youth League Regional North.

ST IVES

IVES firsts tasted their first defeat in Tucker 1 this season as opponents Nassington cruised passed the 181 set by the hosts.

In Cambs Junior Division 1A, it is now three defeats out for three for the seconds as they lost out to Longstowe on the last ball.

There was better luck though for the thirds, who won by six wickets at City of Ely in Cambs 3A with Jerry Wood (4-22) and Patrick Sarkies (67no) leading the way with bat and ball respectively for Ives.

The fourths were on the wrong end of a 101-run defeat by Waterbeach II, although 14-year-old Joshua Asplin (39no) offered brave resistance.

YELLING

A TRIPLE wicket haul from Stephen Tack and Tom Johnson helped Yelling to a 35-run victory at home against City of Ely.

The hosts had posted 199-6 from their 45 overs with Bryan Topham leading the way with 43 at the top of the order.

And it proved more than enough, as Ely could only muster 164 all out in reply.

*

ROLL OF HONOUR

BAT

Dan Jenkins

Little Paxton

170

Macaulay Clark

Eaton Socon II

78

Patrick Sarkies

St Ives III

67no

Matt Pateman

Godmanchester

62no

Richard Willcock

Alconbury

62

BALL

Pete Coleman

Somersham

8-11

Nick Page

Ramsey II

6-22

Terry Armstrong

Houghton & Wyton

5-58

Connor Withers

Warboys II

4-20

Lee Bailey

Abbots Ripton

4-20

*

To see your cricket team featured in The Hunts Post, email a brief summary from your weekend match – including league and division – to sport@huntspost.co.uk no later than MIDDAY on a Monday. If you think there is a batsman or bowler who has put in a standout performance – a stunning century or a brilliant five-for – and is deserving of a spot on the Roll of honour, let us know using the above guidelines.