The latest news from Huntingdonshire’s cricket leagues

CRICKET STICK CAMBS AND HUNTS LEAGUE

GODMANCHESTER TOWN gained ground on Cambs and Hunts League Premier Division leaders March on Saturday with they beat St Ives on foreign soil by a brilliant seven wickets.

A stunning strike of 111 from Town’s Indian batsmen Chethan William was complemented by a 57 from skipper Matthew Pateman, while 17-year-old bowler Jack Skidmore - who will be jetting off to South Africa in October with the league’s young represetitive team - bagged an impressive five wickets from 15 overs for 47 runs.

On September 3 Godmanchester will meet March for what is beginning to feel like a promotion decider.

Needingworth made light work of their oppenents Longstanton in Division 2A of the Cambs and Hunts League, beating them by 129 runs after setting a massive target of 223 for six.

After being asked to field, the visitors were unable to contain the Needingworth batsmen as the promotion chasers with Daniel Sherlock (75), the mainstay of the Needingworth innings, ably supported by Mark Sirot-Smith (47).

In contrast to the visitors, Needingworth’s fielders put on a fine display with seven different players holding on to eight catches.

This excellent fielding backed up the tidy bowling with Mohsin Khurshid (4-14) and Joe Morris (3-31) the main beneficiaries as Longstanton could only reach 94 all out.

Meanwhile, Abbots Ripton beat top-of-the-table Cottenham seconds on their own turf in the 4A division.

Their five-run win came after they had posted their oppenents a target of 172, Lee Smith knocking an excellent 68 and Jerry Hyde backing him up with a cool 41.

At one stage though, Ripton were wheeling away and at 134-4 looked in good shape - but the loss of their remaining wickets for just 35 gave Cottenham a little hope.

And, despite slow progress, it looked as if Cottenham might grab the points with Daniel Parrott and Ryan Waldock putting in the hard work. But Smith bowled Parrot for 50 and Lee Bailey stalled Waldock at 41 LBW - before the visitors collapsed, Smith (4-11) dramatically taking the final wickets for zero.

HUNTS LEAGUE

HUNTINGDON promotion hopes were severly dented when they lost to top-of-the-table Ufford Park in Division One of the Hunts League.

Batting first Ufford made 193 all out but in reply Huntingdon fell 107 runs short after being pegged back for just 86.

Huntingdon seconds also had a bad day, losing on their travels at Castor.

With two players missing Huntingdon batted first but were all out for 109, a total the home side reached in 28 overs for the loss of just six wickets.

Andy Reid, Murray Reid and captain Alistair George starred for Huntingdon thirds at Sawtry though.

Huntingdon batted first and Andy Reid made 74 - with Chris Aldred adding 55.

Sawtry’s fightback was thwarted when Murray Reid picked up 4-24 and captain Alastair George recorded 4-51.

Back in Division One, Warboys kept the pressure on leaders Ufford Park with a victory over Warsley seconds.

Warboys won the toss and bowled first and when the spin pair of Steve Hill (3-24) and Matthew Cooksey (2-21) got into their stride, the wickets started tumbling and the the visitors’ run rate slowed up.

Together they bowled 24 overs for just 45 runs claiming five of the seven wickets that Warsley lost for 115.

In their chase Warboys also lost wickets at regular intervals, but a defiant 35 from 40 balls by man of the match Cooksey put them in touching distance of the target which they reached for the loss of seven wickets in 28.3 overs.

Houghton and Wyton won an exciting encounter at Sawtry in Division Two.

Houghton batted first and despite an early setback made steady progress against the youthful Sawtry opening attack .

Sawtrys bowlers kept the pressure on throughout and a late flourish from Houghton ensured a competitive total of 177-6 from 45 overs.

Josh Meadows (69) and Pete Waughman (34 not out) were the main contributors.

Houghton had to bowl and field well to defend that total and started by taking two early wickets. Sawtry then put themselves in a strong position and with ten overs remaining looked odds on to win.

However some great fielding - including two run outs - and four wickets from Eben Viljeon checked the Sawtry reply and Houghton clung on to win by 10 runs with Sawtry finishing on 167 -9.

In Division Three Warboys seconds beat Ickwell by seven wickets, despite a brilliant Alec Wing 70 (not out) which had the visitors worried.

An opening stand of 92 from Frank Gloster (48) and Chris Hoy (38) laid the foundations for the power players Dominic Hills (47 from 41) and Connor Withers (39 from 22) to guarantee victory on the batsmen-friendly wicket..

CCA JUNIOR CUP FINAL

CHATTERIS seconds missed out in their quest for a third CCA Junior Cup in the final against Sawston seconds at Clare College on Sunday.

Losing the toss, Chatteris were put in to bat on a lovely wicket but found it slow going against an organised side.

Kurt Cunningham made a fine 59 before being run out and Matt Hollis contributed a quickfire 33. Mark Leach at five scored 27 from 23 balls and Grant Osbourn was 12 not out at the death - but their final total of 174 looked to be 30 runs wanting.

The experienced Sawston opening pair scored a partnership of 93 for the first wicket and from then on Chatteris were always firefighting.

A late rally from the bowlers saw Andy Wool taking two wickets, including a fine stumping by Alex Platt, but it wasn’t wasn’t enough and Sawston claimed the Cup with a seven-wicket haul and two overs remaining.

JOSH SMITH, a talented 11 year old who plays for Needingworth, starred for Huntingdonshire in the recent Shrewsbury School Under 11’s Festival.

Smith was voted fielder of the festival after impressing with a mighty 228 runs and nine wickets to help his county side reach the final.

However, it wasn’t all smiles, as Huntingdon narrowly missed out on the winners’ trophy after losing to Derbyshire by just 15 wickets.

DESPITE only having six team members instead of the eight - and the youngest member only being eight-years-old - the girls of the Ramsey, Upwood and Warboys under-13’s team came third at the Girls’ Cricket Festival in Copdock, Ipswich on August 15.

They also won the award for best sportsmanship and team spirit.

(Photo available - team members: Emma Markland, Megan Proud Maddie Lambert, Bethan Gower, Grace Gilbert and Lily Gilbert.).