GODMANCHESTER passed up the chance to cut the gap on the top two in Tucker 1 with a frustrating draw at Fordham - but won the Senior Smith Barry Cup.

GODMANCHESTER passed up the chance to cut the gap on the top two in Tucker 1 with a frustrating draw at Fordham.

With Wisbech and Camden drawing, Goddy had the chance to make up ground, but delayed in declaring and could not skittle the home side to take the points.

Having won the toss, captain Paul Swannell elected to bat first in order to be able to claim full points, and his team set about building a score to defend.

Opener Taylor West fell for a single-figure score for the fourth match in succession, but Michael Cafferkey (55) and Wayne Bradley added 67 for the second wicket.

Trent Pascoe (20) and Adam Cousins (33) kept the score ticking over.

Fifteen-year-old Elliot Cafferkey joined his two brothers in the side, and proved up to the task as he added 31 in 35 balls in a 76-run stand with Swannell.

At 240-7 the time looked right to declare, but Swannell batted on to reach 74 and push the Goddy total to 289-8.

The total seemed to intimidate Fordham, and they played for the draw from the start, though they stumbled early on. At 49-5 within 20 overs, the writing seemed to be on the wall for them, but captain Reece Harding (13) and brother Jason (53) added 65 for the sixth wicket, and ate up half the remaining overs.

The next partnership saw out nine more overs, and when both the Hardings had gone, Geoffrey Arnold and Clinton Cornwell blocked out for the draw.

Pascoe finished with 3-48, while Wayne Bradley and Ollie Verrall each took a pair. However, none could make the vital breakthrough as Fordham got less than halfway to their target at 144-8.

N Godmanchester were victorious in the Smith Barry Senior Cup for the fifth time after defeating Khalsa.

The bowling of man of the match James Sykes (5-51) proved too strong as Khalsa fell 13 runs short.

Batting first, Godmanchester lost an early wicket before Ben Clement (33) and Wayne Bradley (57) put on 88 for the second wicket. A fifth-wicket stand of 69 between Trent Pascoe (56) and Simon Cafferkey (38), and late flurries from James Cowan (15) and Sykes (22), took score to 267.

In reply, Khalsa looked good after reaching 174-3, but Sykes took two quick wickets to set nerves jangling in the Khalsa ranks. Skipper Paul Swannell brought himself back in to dismiss two of the last three batsmen and seal the victory.