Ramsey overcame Godmanchester in a Cambs & Hunts Premier League derby yesterday which featured five half-centuries and some terrific bowling.

The Whiting & Partners Division One title-chasers triumphed by two wickets to keep their hopes of reeling in long-time leaders Ketton alive.

Paul Swannell (61), Tariq Aziz (51) and Landon Neal (50) all impressed with the bat as Godmanchester reached 194 with the spin of Taylor West (4-38) and the seam bowling of Jon Cade (3-33) getting good results with the ball for Ramsey.

Captain Michael Cafferkey was the star of their successful chase with 75, while younger brother Jordon (51) and James Markland (39no) also played key roles.

The home side emerged victorious despite the best efforts of Godmanchester bowler Russel Withey, whose excellent 6-29 return included the scalp of Michael Cafferkey.

Ramsey collected the maximum 30 points available yesterday, while table-toppers Ketton gained 25 for their victory at Histon. The gap between the sides now stands at 31 points with four games remaining.

Ramsey were the only local team to taste victory in the top flight yesterday with Foxton, St Ives and Waresley all beaten on their travels.

Rock-bottom St Ives were pushed closer to relegation by a 101-run reverse at March in a basement battle.

Tom McCarthy (3-32 and 30) was a solid all-round performer as the locals were dismissed for 129 in pursuit of their hosts’ offering of 230.

Umair Tariq top-scored for St Ives with 48 against a March side they followed up from Division Two last season. They could well end up being relegated together now this summer.

Eaton Socon went down by three wickets to outgoing champions Foxton despite Michael Pickard’s first half-century for the club.

His 54 was the stand-out contribution to a tally of 134, which Foxton surpassed with almost 20 overs to spare. Dale Van Der Merwe bagged 3-20 for Eaton Socon.

Runs certainly weren’t in short supply over at Wisbech, where Waresley went down by five wickets after seeing an impressive 234-8 eclipsed.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 19

CAMBS & HUNTS PREMIER LEAGUE

Whiting & Partners Division One

FOXTON beat EATON SOCON by 3 wkts

Eaton Socon 134 (M. Pickard 54).

Foxton 138-7 (D. Van Der Merwe 3-20).

MARCH beat ST IVES by 101 runs

March 230 (T. McCarthy 3-32).

St Ives 129 (U. Tariq 48, T. McCarthy 30).

RAMSEY beat GODMANCHESTER TOWN by 2 wkts

Godmanchester Tn 194 (P. Swannell 61, T. Aziz 51, L. Neal 50, T. West 4-38, J. Cade 3-33).

Ramsey 195-8 (M. Cafferkey 75, J. Cafferkey 51, J. Markland 39no, R. Withey 6-29).

WISBECH beat WARESLEY by 5 wkts

Waresley 234-8 (J. Allcock 41, M. Ninneman 35, T. Griffiths 35, A. Scully 31).

Wisbech 235-5.