Ricky Masters’ five-star bowling display helped nine-man Abbots Ripton keep their Cambs Junior League promotion challenge on track last Saturday.

The combination of holidays and exam revision left the villagers light on bodies for their Division Four North trip to Cottenham 2nds, but they overcame their numerical disadvantage to sneak a valuable one-wicket success.

Masters claimed three wickets in the same over on his way to figures of 5-21 as the home side were removed for 121. Theo Hiscock then carried his bat with an unbeaten 39 as Abbots Ripton scraped past that tally.

Tense finishes to tight games were the order of the day as St Ives 3rds also snatched a dramatic one-wicket victory at that level.

Their prospects of success didn’t look particularly good when visitors Willingham piled up 202-3, but they eclipsed that tally with two overs still to go.

Opener Dominic Stevens was the highest-scoring batsman with 36, although 31 extras certainly helped the St Ives cause.

Bluntisham 2nds had a couple of wickets to spare as they climbed into the Division Five North promotion places.

Captain Jon Bowland top-scored with 41 as the locals edged past a posting of 147 from hosts Wisbech 4ths to collect a third successive victory.

Ryan Peel (3-12) and George Davies (3-15) both impressed with the ball for the Bluntisham side.

The club’s first XI continued their Division One North title challenge – and there was nothing close about a sixth successive victory.

The locals won by 107 runs at Terrington St Clements after a backing up a big score of 260-7 with some impressive bowling.

Steve Dighton (53) hit a half-century for Bluntisham, while Darren Fordham (49), Mike Davis (44) and Howard Mathson (43) all came close to the same feat. Alex Merry and Harvey Bullin then bagged three wickets apiece.

Andy Hunter’s big-hitting 78 (which featured 10 fours and three sixes) and Simon Pawley’s smart 4-24 were stand-out contributions as second-placed St Ives 2nds won at Camden by 51 runs in Division Two North.