THEY may be third in the Hunts County Bats Division One table but Eaton Socon are certainly sitting pretty with six games of the season to go.

It’s tight at the top but with a game in hand over the two teams above them, Huntingdon & District and Ufford Park, the next three games are key says captain Terry Day.

He believes, if Eaton win them, promotion the TuckerGardner Cambs & Hunts Premier League will be won too.

“We have Ramsey II on Saturday but they won’t be easy and we are without half-a-dozen players for that game – so we won’t be taking anything for granted.”

Following that game, Eaton will face Godmancheser Town II before a crucial showdown with leaders Huntingdon.

“If we turn them over,” said Day, “then we can go on a win the league. There is a lot of good feeling at the club at the moment. But first we have to deal with Ramsey – and that’s a pretty big game in itself.”

Eaton had a comfortable 159-run win over Waresley II on Saturday. They got off to a great start with Matt Rawling (85) and Will Hall (43) sharing a 138-run opening partnership and Namal Senaviratna smashing 53 off just 29 balls as they raced to a total of 242 for four.

Eaton then bowled Waresley out for just 83 with Ben Gowling taking five wickets for 33 runs.

Ramsey II beat early season pacesetters Alconbury by seven wickets when they reached their target of 149 for the loss of just three wickets in 41.2 overs.

Alconbury openers Dave Cotton (38) and Paul Suckling (62) gave the home side a great start but after that only Richard Ewing (33) made a decent show of his innings.

Steve Buddle (24), Peter Youds (69), Dan Malem (13) and Adam Taylor (25) knocked off the runs for Ramsey.

Huntingdon & District beat Barnack by nine wickets when set a target of just 103.

Nikhil Kumpukkul (54) and Nomi Khan (41) – helped by Dawood Shah’s four – made 105 in 17.4 overs.

Godmanchester Town II’s game at Burleigh Park was called off.

Hunts 2

EATON Socon II lost at AK XI in Division Two of the Hunts County Bats League when they were all out for 160 chasing 185.

Tom Banks took four for 25 and Dan Newman four for 58 but Eaton were unable to reach AK’s target despite David McCaig’s 35 and Simon Cooper’s 29.

Houghton & Wyton were beaten by visitors Orton Park who set a target of 239 for nine with Nick Bradbury scoring 121 of the runs. In reply Houghton hit 189 but were all out at 40 overs.

Sawtry were beaten by Hampton when they were all out just 11 runs short of their 118 target.

Hunts 3

BUCKDEN beat Biggleswade by 73 runs at Lindsell Memorial Pavilion in Division Three of the Hunts County Bats League. Paul Brading (58) and Stuart Brown (16) were both unbeaten as they added to Alex Marsh’s 41 when they put on 192 for five in 45 overs.

Paul Tidley then got six Biggleswade wickets for 26 in 12 overs as the home side floundered in the chase.

Sawtry II conceded on their visit to Ickwell while Bharat Sports conceded at Warboys. The Upwood-Huntingdon & District II derby was cancelled.

Hunts 4

RAMSEY III opener Elliot Smith completed his century on the last ball of the innings when they beat Brampton by 128 runs in Division Four of the Hunts County Bats League on Sunday.

Visitors Brampton struggled against the youthful Ramsey side after the home side had posted a target of 238 for five.

Olly Day was Brampton’s the most successful bowler with figures of three for 50 but not for the first time this season Brampton lost wickets regularly with only Andy Canham (22) and Ian Purser (37) having decent spells.

John Sykes, batting at No10, was the only other Brampton player able to get into double figures batting at number 10. It was a quick and entertaining cameo with the side all out for 110 in the 33rd over.

Hunts 5

UPWOOD II and Buckden II played out a thrilling tie at Huntingdon Road in Division Five of the Hunts County Bats League.

Upwood batted first but only managed 125 all out off 28.4 overs with Sean Hoey (15), Jamie Hutchcraft (21), Zak Stevens (25 not out) and Michael Drage (18) the main scorers on the green track but damp outfield. It was Tom Chester who did the damage, the Buckden bowler finishing with five wickets for 28 runs from his 12 overs.

With 60 overs to bat on drying pitch it, Buckden were the obvious favourites at the turn around and they got off to a decent start reaching 22 for none in the ninth over. However two wickets in an over from Zak Stevens (3-10) began the Upwood charge and after another wicket in the next over, Buckden were 24 for three.

Daniel Hays survived the innings scoring 31 not out and his partnership with Jonathon Mews (16) brought it back into Buckden’s favour – but a further two wickets from Rhys Abraham (2-22), a stunning run out from Michael Drage (2-16) and some outstanding bowling from Hutchcraft (2-7) meant the visitor’s matched the home side’s 125 exactly.

Sawtry III made light work of Huntingdon & District III in the same division, beating them by eight wickets after reaching their target of 177 for the loss of just two.

Hayden Bream made an impressive 106 not out which included 13 fours and two sixes.