The Sawtry captain Ian Fowler was delighted with his side’s derby win in Division Two of the Hunts Couty Bats League on Saturday – because it was their first of the season.

Sawtry took the two-wicket victory from home side Alconbury with Fowler telling The Hunts Post: “The fact that neither team had won before the day made it a must-win game.”

Sawtry won the toss and bowled first and with a good all-round effort in the field and with the ball, they restricted Alconbury to 114 for nine from their 45 overs.

“We knew the chase wouldn’t be easy, however,” said Fowler. “The wicket was very helpful to the bowlers and Alconbury have some very experienced bowlers.

Neil Suckling (4-27) bowled particularly well and it says a lot when it takes a batsman 66 balls to get off the mark.

“With 16 overs to go we still needed 70 runs, and Josh Burgess and Ian Bonsall got the innings going – but they had gone and we had two wickets left with seven overs to go chasing 30 more to win.

“It ended up going to the last over needing five to win but Luke Reed, batting alongside 16-year-old Ryan Burcham, kept calm to hit a four to win the game.

“It was pleasing to win the game in such conditions and all of the lads deserve credit for the win.”

Also in Division Two, Pete Waughman (4-40) and Jerry Wood (4-35) took eight wickets between them in Houghton & Wyton’s brilliant three-wicket Division Two win at AK XI. Callum Hale top scored with 43 as Houghton reached 147 for seven.

Waresley II were beaten by two wickets at Old Eastonians despite Myles Cordeux’s 46 and Thomas Baker’s four wickets for 50 runs.

Godmanchester Town II beat Ramsey II in Division One of the Hunts County Bats League to reverse the outcome of the game between the two first teams in the Tucker Gardner League.

Ramsey, batting first, set their hosts a total of 111 with Vince Woodward top scoring with 36. Goddy’s James Howell’s did most of the damage taking five wickets for 27 runs but Alex Marsh also lent a hand with three for 28.

Jon Cade took four for 18 for Ramsey but Goddy reached 112 with two lives to spare in 37.3 overs.

Huntingdon & District sneaked an 11-run win against Eaton Socon II with the bowling of Gary Mills, who got six wickets for 28 runs, decisive as Huntingdon got their opponents all out for 146 after setting a target of 157.

Gareth Thomas and Barry Cavilla both top scored in the game with 33 each for Eaton and Thomas also took four wickets for 21.

Warboys II won the Hunts derby in Division Three reaching Huntingdon & District II’s total of 118 with just three wickets down. Connor Withers top scored with 53 while Brady West took four for 19.

Warboys III (59 all out) were easily beaten by Blunham III (62-1) in Division Four, while in Division Five there was a nice 10-run win for Upwood II against Houghton & Wyton II.

Simon Dean of Houghton top scored in the game with a knock of 57, while the best bowler was Upwood’s Jake Stema, who ended up with three wickets for the loss of just seven runs.