Huntingdon handed win by nine-man Hilton

HUNTS COUNTY LEAGUE

THERE was a speedy conclusion to Huntingdon thirds’ Division Five home encounter with Hilton on Sunday - with the visitors conceding the game after just 10 overs.

Facing a depleted Hilton team that was down to just nine players, Huntingdon quickly raced to 102-1 off just 10 overs, with Chris Aldred (50no) and Liam Gaynor (40no) looking in fine nick, as they dispatched the visiting bowlers to all parts of the ground.

Huntingdon spokesman Ben George said: “The day didn’t go to waste, as four Hilton guys and 15 Huntingdon players played a friendly game to ensure a fun day of cricket was actually achieved.

“Huntingdon Cricket Club would like to thank the four Hilton players who stayed around in good spirit after their fellow team-mates’ attitude.”

Hilton skipper Mark Darlow apologised for conceding the match, and said that his team would focus on friendlies next year due to their difficulties in assembling a regular XI.

Elsewhere in Division Five on Sunday, Warboys thirds ran out winners by 15 runs at home against Biggleswade seconds.

Captain Ed Trafford (48) top scored for the hosts as his side were bowled out for 152 in 43.3 overs.

And that proved to be more than enough as Jake Tingey (5-34) led the way with the ball as Biggleswade could muster only 137-9 in reply.

In Division One, Eaton Socon recorded a 29-run home victory over Ufford Park.

Simon Cooper top scored with 41 in the hosts’ 207 and then the visitors were bowled out for 178 with Dom Marchant and Siva Nalliyannan picking up three wickets each.

Matt Cooksey’s unbeaten 89 guided Warboys to a six-wicket win at Alconbury.

The hosts had earlier posted 163-5 from their 45 overs with Dave Cotton (68) and Gary Cole (57) getting runs.

But Cooksey’s knock proved to be the difference and took the visitors over the winning line for the loss of just four wickets.

A century from Naved Ahmed helped inspire Huntingdon seconds as they thrashed table-topping Hampton by 144 runs in Division Three.

Hosts Hunts raced to 247-8 from their 45 overs batting first, thanks largely to Ahmed’s unbeaten 137, before the visitors were skittled out for 103.

Elsewhere in Division Three, Warboys seconds were winners by 35 runs at Castor & Ailsworth seconds.

They had Dominic Hills (83no) to thank for getting them up to 177 before being bowled out, with only two other batsman reaching double figures.

Then four wickets from Brady West (4-37) helped reduce the hosts to 142 in reply.

Sawtry seconds won by 64 runs at Orton Park seconds, thanks largely to a stunning bowling display from Chris Brown (5-13) that helped bowl Orton out for just 80.

That was in reply to Sawtry’s 144 all out, with opener Luke Smith’s 71 leading the way with the bat for the visitors.

CCA JUNIOR LEAGUE

ABBOTS RIPTON smashed their own club record for a 40-over game for second time this season on their way to a crushing 199-run home victory over Isleham seconds in Division 4A on Saturday.

Once again it was the destructive batting of Lee Smith that led the way, as his unbeaten 152 - which included 17 fours and six maximums - guided the hosts to a record 323-3.

It was his third ton in four matches and takes his run tally for the season to in excess of 700 and helped beat second-placed Abbots’ previous best score of 306-4, achieved against Over seconds last month.

Craig Marsh (60) also notched his first half century in the run-fest, before Lee Bailey (4-31) and Ricky Masters (4-16) helped skittle the visitors out for 124.

Resurgent Needingworth got the better of Wisbech thirds with a decisive six-wicket victory in a low-scoring encounter.

Having elected to bat on a flat-looking track, Wisbech were bowled out for just 91, with aggressive bowling from Ben Carter in particular (4-18) shredding the top order.

Ian Medlicott (4-20) finished them off and, despite a few minor mishaps in reply, Needingworth went on to record their sixth win in seven games.

RUTLAND LEAGUE

THERE was an easy 116-run victory for Eaton Socon II over their Oakham counterparts in Division Six on Sunday.

Richard Nicklin (64) helped them to 260-6, while Shane de Silva’s 5-19 meant Oakham could only muster 144 in reply.

Also in Rutland 6, Warboys seconds capped a superb weekend for the club overall as they saw off the challenge of Alconbury seconds by 45 runs.

Batting first, Chris Hoy struck 39 for hosts Warboys on his return to the team and top scored in their total of 154-7 from 45 overs, with Charlie Nelson 3-43 the leading wicket-taker for Alconbury.

Only three visiting batsman reached double figures in reply for Alconbury, who never looked like getting anywhere near the victory target.

Richard King top scored with 25 with bowler William England (4-13) shining like a beacon.

TUCKER PREMIER

HAPLESS Godmanchester Town’s failure to get runs cost them again on Saturday, as they were outdone on their own track by Foxton, going down by five wickets in Division One.

The hosts posted just 85 before being bowled out and, although they then launched a mini-revival by taking five Foxton wickets, the damage had already been done.

It was another blow to their promotion aspirations, especially given the fact leaders March Town cruised to a seven-wicket victory at Ramsey - whose own promotion hopes now look dead in the water.

Ramsey were all out for just 79 batting first before March strolled home to victory.

Meanwhile the game between Nassington and St Ives Town ended in a draw.

Rob Setchell (4-41) was the standout bowler for the visitors as they bowled Nassington out for 176.

But, despite 66 from opener Will Lygo, St Ives finished eight runs short of the victory target, ending on 169-9 with the game declared a draw.

In Division Two, an unbeaten century at the top of the order from opener Matt Rawling (102no) – which included 14 fours and a six - guided Warseley to a hard-fought six-wicket home victory over Godmanchester Town seconds.

Earlier, Goddy had posted 216-9 from their allotted 48 overs, with James Howells (99no) agonisingly falling just one run short of his ton, while opener Matt Knaepel (50) also contributed.