A round-up of the weekend’s cricket in Huntingdonshire.

BATTING second, Cambridgeshire under-25s required just 34 from 12 overs to beat their Huntingdonshire rivals last Wednesday.

And with five wickets in hand, who would have bet against them?

Hunts perhaps? The home side pulled off a dramatic win and claimed the last five wickets for just five runs to record a victory that lifted them to claim the runners-up spot in the East of England Development competition league table.

Hunts lost three early wickets with only James Markland (28) showing real resistance to the lively Cambs attack.

However a patient sixth-wicket stand of 47 between David Foster (26) and Charlie Kearns brought something of a recovery.

Kearns was eventually out just five runs short of what would been a deserved half-century but the Hunts total of 172 looked insufficient with the Cambs line up boasting several players with Minor Counties experience.

Tyler Phillips was Cambs’ most successful bowler, finishing with 3-18.

One of the more experienced players, Peter Richer, led the way in the reply and reached a solid half-century - but like Hunts the visitors lost early wickets cheaply.

Richer (51) and Matt Milner (43) compiled a fourth wicket stand of 49 and when both were out Cambs needed just 34 to win.

Then came the dramatic collapse as Hunts skipper Ashley Rodgers rotated his bowlers and Kearns and Foster obliged as they shared the last four wickets.

Kearns took the man of the match tag for his all-round display, finishing with 3-17, and Foster, Rob Sayer and Joe Dawborn all weighed in with two wickets each.

Hunts may have surrendered the title they lifted last season but beating two of the favourites in their last two matches saw them finish with a defiant flourish.

Result: Huntingdonshire U25 172 all out in 44.1 overs beat Cambridgeshire U25 144 all out in 43.3 overs by 28 runs.

CAMBS & HUNTS CRICKET LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

AFTER making changes in the top two, Waresley took a beating at the hands of champions-elect Castor on Saturday.

On a good pitch the home side went from 52 for the first wicket to 90 for nine and if it hadn’t been for a last-wicket stand of 40 between Terry Hayden and R Nicholson things could have been very embarrassing.

As it was Castor were surely comfortable with their target of 130. And it looked like they were cruising when 89 for just two wickets their mini-slump began.

Hayden’s figures of four for 29 did a lot of damage, but not enough – it was the visiting skipper R Vitas who knocked a late 17 to take the win.

HUNTS LEAGUE DIVISION THREE

Eaton Socon seconds were celebrating on Saturday after winning promotion won to the second tier of the Huntingdonshire County Cricket League.

The jubilant team secured their promotion with an excellent eight-wicket win over Buckden.

Batting first, Buckden were bowled out for just 124 with Adam Newman recording figures of 3-18.

In reply, Eaton knocked off the runs needed for two wickets with Bob Nicklin 57 not out and Rich Nicklin hitting 58.