Captain Jonny Carpenter followed up a third century of the summer with a seasonal best bowling performance to keep Eaton Socon in the chase for Cambs & Hunts Premier League title glory yesterday.

Carpenter hit an unbeaten 105 and then spun his way to 4-39 in an 85-run derby triumph at strugglers Waresley in Whiting & Partners Division One.

Carpenter featured in a 111-run opening stand with Matt Pateman, who cracked 73 off 69 balls, as Eaton Socon piled up 259-4.

The skipper also led by example with the ball as Eaton Socon dismissed their hosts for 174. Youngster Olly Jefferies (3-38) was also among the wickets as his side climbed to third place in the top-flight standings.

Eaton Socon now trail leaders Saffron Walden by 29 points. The table-toppers breezed to a 10-wicket triumph at rock-bottom Kimbolton yesterday.

The locals were undone by a brilliant 8-32 performance from visiting bowler Alex Hancock when dismissed for 75.

Sam Malton (24) and Hewa Atapattu (11) the only men to manage double-figures for Kimbolton who then saw Saffron Walden smash their way to victory in just nine overs without losing a wicket.

Godmanchester Town were another team short of runs, but they were able to celebrate victory.

Town and March managed just 140 between them at The Parks where the pitch was reported to be in considerably better condition than the low scores might suggest.

Paul Swannell was the star performer as hosts Godmanchester prevailed by 12 runs when successfully defending their meagre tally of 76.

Swannell was responsible for 27 of those runs (Adam Cousins the only other home batsman to reach double-figure with 13) as Town were removed in 20.1 overs.

He then claimed 4-14 with the ball as March were sent packing for 64 with former Leicestershire spinner James Sykes back on song with 4-24. Elliott Baldwin also claimed 2-16.

Runs were certainly in plentiful supply at Histon where Ramsey were beaten in a contest featuring 565 of them!

Michael Cafferkey’s men contributed 273 as they valiantly chased the home side’s mighty posting of 292-6.

St Ives came up short in their top-of-the-table tussle in Whiting & Partners Division Two.

The locals, who started the day in second place but dropped to third as a result of this loss, went down to the leaders by 13 runs.

Granta 2nds reached 241 despite 4-19 from Shaun Asplin before St Ives were dismissed for 228 in reply. Ricky Greiller (60) and Nikhil Kumpukkal (39) were their highest scorers.

Huntingdon & District slipped up by six wickets at Thriplow after being removed for 175.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4

CAMBS & HUNTS PREMIER LEAGUE

Whiting & Partners Division One

GODMANCHESTER TOWN beat MARCH by 12 runs

Godmanchester Tn 76 (P. Swannell 27).

March 64 (P. Swannell 4-14, J. Sykes 4-24).

HISTON beat RAMSEY by 19 runs

Histon 292-6.

Ramsey 273.

KIMBOLTON lost to SAFFRON WALDEN by 10 wkts

Kimbolton 75 (J. Redinger 24).

Saffron Walden 78-0.

WARESLEY lost to EATON SOCON by 85 runs

Eaton Socon 259-4 (J. Carpenter 105no, M. Pateman 73).

Waresley 174 (D. Cummins 30, J. Carpenter 4-39, O. Jefferies 3-38).

Whiting & Partners Division Two

ST IVES lost to CAMBRIDGE GRANTA 2NDS by 13 runs

Cambridge Granta 2nds 241 (S. Asplin 4-19).

St Ives 228 (R. Greiller 60, N. Kumpukkal 39).

THRIPLOW beat HUNTINGDON & DISTRICT by 6 wkts

Huntingdon & District 175.

Thriplow 176-4.