Crucial fortnight approaches for title-chasing St Ives
ST IVES captain Ricky Greiller has highlighted the next two weeks as potentially pivotal in his team’s Tucker 2 title challenge.
ST IVES
ST IVES captain Ricky Greiller has highlighted the next two weeks as potentially pivotal in his team’s Tucker 2 title challenge.
Ives went top win with victory over Bluntisham on Saturday, and face Babraham and Ickwell – fifth and second respectively – in their next two fixtures.
Greiller said: “Our next two fixtures are against teams that we consider our title rivals. We need to make sure that we get positive results from the matches, as that could put us in a strong position and set us up for a good run-in.”
Reuan Williams (40) top-scored for St Ives, but his team could do no better than what appeared to be a below-par total of 202 all out. Steven Smith (38) gave Williams valuable support early in the innings and Will Lygo (33) added valuable runs to take Ives past the 200 mark, but too many of the Ives middle order got out after making a start.
Mitchel Chandler (4-48) starred with the ball and Graham Parks picked up three good wickets for Bluntisham.
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Any Ives concerns over the score evaporated as they needed less than 23 overs and two bowlers to rattle through a lightweight Bluntisham batting line-up.
Only Darren Fordham (22) and Steve Dighton (20) managed double figures as they crashed to 71 all out with Kevin Gilder (6-31) and Ryan Withers (4-37) returning match-winning figures.
Bluntisham skipper Andrew Hunter felt his team’s run chase had let them down badly and undone the good work with the ball. He added: “We were well below an acceptable standard with the bat, but I did feel that we had bowled well beforehand.” Ives captain Greiller said: “It was a good toss to win. The movement and bounce their spinner got was considerable and it persuaded me to open with two spinners.”
Ives II were also impressive in beating Wimblington in their Cambs 2 match. Ives posted a healthy 239-6 with Neil Ewart (66) and Nick Bennett (64*) heading the stats. Shaun Asplin and Fawad Chishty then grabbed four wickets apiece to reduce Wimblington to just 80 all out in 25 overs.
