GODMANCHESTER Town continue to fly high in Premier One of the TuckerGardner League after a seven-wicket win over Nassington – but the captain Matt Pateman didn’t really feel like it was much of a cricket match and was just pleased when his side finally got over the line.
“It was a bit of a wet wicket, to be honest,” he said “They played a pretty negative game and were all out for one shy of a hundred.
“It didn’t really feel like much of a game of cricket and it was a relief when we got the job done.”
Godmanchester are second only to Wisbech at the top of the table with both teams winning four of their six games.
“We’re pleased we bounced back from last week’s loss,” said Pateman. “It’s looking good at the moment.”
Steve Marsh and Chethan William scored 31 and 28 not out as Goddy made light work of the chase after Nassington were all out for 99. Pateman made 18 not out as they reached 102 in 21.4 overs for the loss of just three wickets.
William took three of the wickets for 18 runs and the others were shared out by Martin Burton (2-18), Elliot Baldwin (2-12) and Paul Jefferson (1-30).
Four Ramsey batsmen made it into the 20s in a battle of the last two Premier One champions but that wasn’t enough for a win against Foxton with the game drawn at The Cricketfield.
Ramsey lost the toss and were put into bat on what looked to be a difficult wicket but they actually played reasonably well. A fast start by openers Michael Cafferkey (23) and Simon Cafferkey (29) saw them get to the mid-20 by the end of the fourth over, mainly because of some wayward bowling by Chris Pepper.
But the scoring slowed once Pepper had found his right length and with wickets falling at regular intervals a large total never seemed on the cards and the home side were happy to reach a respectable 174 all out off exactly 48 overs with Luke Stewart and Rob Menary hitting 28 each.
In reply Foxton were always in the game, despite tight opening spells from Sam Rippington (1-35) and David Carlaw (1-14).
With Henry Hunter going very well the visitors were looking good but two quick wickets by Michael Cafferkey changed the game and with Foxton’s tail a long one they decided to shut up shop for a draw at only six wickets down. This, in hindsight, may have been the wrong decision as they came close to Ramsey’s total finishing just seven runs shy on 167-6.
Waresley had a seven-wicket win at Cambridge NCI with opener Simon Donald making 60 not out and Phil Masdin 25 not out as they reached 121 for the loss of three wickets in 36 overs.
Sheikh Baqar Ali finished with the impressive figures of 5-28, while Terry Hayden recorded 3-29 as they restricted their opponents to a meagre 119 all out.
St Ives Town drew their game against Camden at Pembroke College when they failed to reach the home side’s total of 197.
Chris Muggleton had taken 4-19 but in reply St Ives were slow and Bevis Moynan’s 19 and Paul Swannell’s 37 were the best they could offer as they batted out their innings.
In Premier Two Eaton Socon got back to winning ways with a six-wicket win over Hardwick.
Hardwick won the toss and batted but could only manage 102 all out thanks to good spells from opening bowlers Ryan Vale (4-19) and Ben Gowling (3-41).
Eaton reached their target losing only four wickets with Matt Rawling making 31 and David Humphrey 26 not out.
Warboys’ Matt Cooksley hit seven fours in his excellent 76 but, despite making 171-6 in their 48 overs against visitors Histon, they could only manage a draw.
Brady West got 3-12 but the visitors managed to bat out the 48 overs for 145 and the loss of eight wickets.
HUNTINGDON & District had a straightforward 91-run win over Burghley Park on Saturday as they try to keep pace with Blunham at the top of Division One of the Hunts County Bats Hunts League.
Kashif Mahmood Butt top scored for Huntingdon with 42 but Sheroon Imran also chipped in with a decent knock of 38 as they made 168 from their inings.
It was the bowling of Shalinder Ranaut (5-34) that did the damage as Burghley were all out for 77.
Nick Page took 4-42 as Ramsey II cruised to their win at Barnack who stuttered to 100 all out.
Ashley Wells top scored for the Rams with 22 but it was a tight squeeze as they only managed to reach the target in 43.5 overs.
Blunham beat Waresley II by 149 runs as the home side stake their claim for a place in the TuckerGardner next season.
Joe Colebrooke got 3-55 but Blunham made 271 and in reply Waresley were all out for 122.
Godmanchester Town II had a decent 60-run win over Nassington with James Howells boasting a giant knock of 136.
Nick Wilmer got 59 not out as Goddy cruised to 266-5 – a total that their opponents could get nowhere near with Laurie Marsh claiming 5-42.
In Division Two, Eaton Socon II made it back-to-back victories with a 47-run win over Old Eastonians.
Eaton batted first and made 205-5 with Macaulay Clark making his maiden century – and one more – for 101 not out. He was supported well by Will Hall (32).
Old Eastonians could only manage 158-9 in reply with Clark once again the main man taking three of the wickets for the loss of just 34 runs.
Also in Division Two, Alconbury had a four-wicket win over Cople but Peterborough III beat Warboys II.
Sawtry pulled off an excellent one-wicket win against Orton Park.
Eaton Socon III’s won their Division Four derby with Little Paxton by two wickets.
Little Paxton made 126 all out with John Williams hitting a decent 52 and Tim Walker making 38 – but they were the only batsman in double figures with Dan Wood taking 4-24.
Eaton lost eight wickets on their way to reaching their total with Ryan Vale top scoring with 31.
OTHER CRICKET
EATON Socon lost their unbeaten run in Division One of the Rutland League when they lost to Finedon.
Eaton made 204-6 with Jon Carpenter 68, and Terry Day and Chris Budd 39 each. Finedon won the game with eight balls to spare and with seven wickets down with Joe Dawborn taking 3-31.
In the Cambs Junior League, Needingworth recored back-to-back wins with another dominant bowling display aginsty Isleham.
The marksmanship of Dan Sherlock (2-18) and George Smith (6-16) meant Needingworth needed just 120 to win.
Callum Mitcham (68 not out) and James Baldock (39 not out) forged an unbeaten stand of 114 to seal the nine- wicket victory.
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