HUNTINGDONSHIRE U25 were crowned 2010 East of England Champions in a title shoot-out against Cambridgeshire.

County Cricket

HUNTINGDONSHIRE U25 were crowned 2010 East of England Champions in a title shoot-out against Cambridgeshire.

Both teams went into the final game with a chance of winning, and Hunts’ victory in a rain-curtailed game was enough to give them the title on nett run rate – their first since 2003.

The clash with Cambs was decided on run rate after heavy rain forced the abandonment with Cambs 10 overs into their reply.

Cambs invited Hunts to bat, knowing that heavy rain was predicted during the afternoon at the Ramsey ground. The home side struggled early on and three wickets had fallen with only 35 runs on the board.

As so often this season, the Hunts lineup turned to talisman Michael Cafferkey (89) to turn the match in their favour, and he obliged, hauling the innings to respectability and beyond with Harry Chappell (67).

Trent Pascoe (18) added rapid-fire runs and David McCallum (19) and David Humphreys (26*) smashed 44 in 40 balls to see the hosts to 242-7.

With rain fast approaching, Cambs needed a run rate of around five an over to win the match but they became stuck in the crease. Pascoe bowled 5.4 overs for just 11 runs before the storms hit, and fellow opener Adam Rendall was equally economical.

At 22-2, after just ten overs and four balls, heavy and persistent rain brought a damp end to proceedings leaving Huntingdonshire the match and league victors.

EAST OF ENGLAND CHAMPIONSHIP

P W L N/R Pts

Hunts 5 3 2 0 6

Suffolk 5 3 2 0 6

Norfolk 5 3 2 0 6

Essex Dev XI 5 2 2 1 5

Cambridgeshire 5 2 2 1 5

Lincolnshire 5 1 4 0 2

Huntingdonshire win on best overall scoring rate.