Jonny Carpenter celebrated a first century of the summer as Eaton Socon eased clear of the Cambs & Hunts Premier League drop-zone yesterday.

The captain hit 13 fours and a six on his way to 106 in a 44-run Whiting & Partners Division One victory at March.

Carpenter’s exploits – along with 49 from South African import Dale Van Der Merw and opener Matthew Sharpe’s 45 – helped Eaton Socon post 259 before dismissing their hosts for 215.

A devastating opening spell of bowling from Joe Watling (4-53) reduced March to 25-5 in reply, but the hosts dug deep before Eaton Socon closed out the contest with three-and-a-half overs remaining.

Ramsey climbed into second place by beating bottom side St Ives yesterday.

Umair Tariq hit a first half-century for St Ives as his side reached 186 at Cricketfield Lane, but the home team eased past that target with plenty to spare.

Waresley and Godmanchester Town were both beaten on their travels.

Waresley went down by five wickets at Saffron Walden after being dismissed for 187. Aussie ace Michael Ninneman was responsible for almost a third of that total thanks to a top-scoring 62.

Godmanchester suffered a 152-run reverse at Nassington, where they could only muster 169 in reply to a mighty 321-6 from their hosts.

Kimbolton stretched their lead at the top of Whiting & Partners Division Two thanks to a smooth away success.

Rory Fenton led the way with 80 as they triumphed by 122 runs at lowly Cambridge Granta 2nds.

Kimbolton posted 217-7 before dismissing the home side for 95 with Chris Gilthorpe claiming 3-17. Jason Redinger and Lee Ingram took a couple of wickets apiece.

Huntingdon & District’s promotion challenge suffered a blow when they were thumped at Castor & Ailsworth.

Craig Leigh’s men could only reach 78 as they went down by eight wickets to a team who skittled fellow locals Warboys for just 47 the previous weekend.

And bottom side Warboys were again seriously short of runs when suffering another heavy defeat yesterday.

They were beaten by Great Shelford by nine wickets after being removed for 68.

CAMBS & HUNTS PREMIER LEAGUE

Whiting & Partners Division One

MARCH lost to EATON SOCON by 44 runs

Eaton Socon 259 (J. Carpenter 106, D. Van Der Merwe 49, M. Sharpe 45).

March 215 (J. Watling 4-53).

NASSINGTON beat GODMANCHESTER TOWN by 152 runs

Nassington 321-6.

Godmanchester Tn 169 (L. Neal 43, T. Aziz 31).

RAMSEY beat ST IVES by 6 wkts

St Ives 186 (U. Tariq 56, N. Kumpukkal 45, T. McCarthy 30).

Ramsey 187-4.

SAFFRON WALDEN beat WARESLEY by 5 wkts

Waresley 187 (N. Ninneman 62).

Saffron Walden 191-5.

Whiting & Partners Division Two

CAMBRIDGE GRANTA 2NDS lost to KIMBOLTON by 122 runs

Kimbolton 217-7 (R. Fenton 80, J. Redinger 41, M. Burton 33).

Cambridge Granta 2nds 95 (C. Gilthorpe 3-17).

CASTOR & AILSWORTH beat HUNTINGDON & DISTRICT by 8 wkts

Huntingdon & District 78.

Castor & Ailsworth 79-2.

WARBOYS lost to GREAT SHELFORD by 9 wkts

Warboys 68.

Great Shelford 69-1.