A round-up of the latest action from around the Huntingdonshire cricket scene

HUNTS COUNTY LEAGUE

WARBOYS pulled off a stunning one-wicket win at home against Huntingdon in Division One on Saturday.

An unbeaten 76 from Matt Cooksey saw them over the line – having been staring down the barrel of defeat throughout their innings.

Huntingdon had earlier posted 163-7, with Hamza Rashid finishing unbeaten on 55.

Rashid then capped a fine all-round performance by taking four wickets with the ball but, having been 76-8 and 80-9, Warboys put on a final-wicket stand of more than 80.

Matt Lavender (17no) did a sterling job to stay with Cooksey to pull off what had earlier looked like mission impossible.

Dom Malem’s knock of 86 guided Ramsey seconds to a six-wicket win over Eaton Socon.

Rams were replying to the visitors’ 217-9 from 45 overs, which was achieved thanks to a half century from Terry Day (52).

The victory target was achieved for the loss of just four wickets.

Waresley seconds lost by nine runs at home against Orton Park - that despite the best efforts of bowler Jim Keys, who took 6-42.

Keys stood out but the visitors still made 222-9 from their 45 overs and, despite half centuries from opener George Richards (58) and Simon Blows (52), Waresley fell short on 213-8 after their allotted time at the crease.

Alconbury, meanwhile, were crushed by 112 runs at Barnack.

In Division Two, not even a five-for from Pete Waughman could inspire Houghton & Wyton to victory as they lost convincingly by 85 runs at home to Cople Argus.

Waughman claimed 5-57 in Cople’s 264 all out in 44.5 overs, but Houghton were 163 all out in reply, Josh Meadows top scoring with 63.

A poor batting performance from Sawtry cost them dear at AK XI, eventually losing by three wickets.

The hosts could muster just 83 before being bowled out but, despite a spirited fightback with the ball – taking seven AK home wickets – the damage had already been done.

Opener Phil Wright clubbed 14 fours and three sixes on his way to 113 as Huntingdon seconds beat Ickwell seconds by 31 runs in Division Three - their fourth win in a row.

Wright’s knock help the hosts to 223-9 and, just when it looked as though Ickwell might sneak home, bowler Freddie Khan turned the match in Hunts’ favour with a spell of 6-19.

Elsewhere in Division Three, Warboys seconds went down by six wickets at Buckden.

Replying to the visitors’ 195-5 off 45 overs, Buckden made it home with four wickets down and five balls to spare.

There was a five-wicket haul for Ryan Drage as Upwood won by seven wickets at Blunham seconds.

The hosts made 151 all out batting first – with Drage collecting 5-35 - and then an unbeaten 55 from opener David Drage helped the visitors to victory.

In Division Four, Brampton crashed to 86 all out on their way to a heavy 143-run reverse at home against Werrington, while Eaton Socon thirds recorded a crushing 158-run win over Ramsey thirds.

Sawtry thirds were 60-run victors at Hilton.

James Wiltshire top scored with 66 in the visitors’ 203 all out, before bowling out their hosts for 143 in reply. Graeme Stubbington (63) was their leading run-getter.

COOTE CUP

REVENGE was sweet for Warboys as 80 from man of the match Ryan Humphreys inspired them to Coote Cup final glory by 69 runs at the expense of holders Eltisley last Sunday.

In a repeat of last year’s final – which Eltisley won by 48 runs – Warboys batted first and opener Humphreys’ knock set them on their way to 194 all out, with A Johnson and D Johnson both collecting four wickets apiece.

And the holders surrendered their crown after falling well short of the victory target.

Matt Lavender – who also contributed a run out and a catch - collected 4-14 as Eltisley were bowled out for 125, including the wicket of D Walker, who made 50.

WARBOYS FEAST WEEK

A SUCCESSFUL Feast Week was held by Warboys last week, with two friendly matches played.

The highlights were D Cotton, who thrashed 122 off 129 balls for a Derek Staines XI against a Warboys Feast XI on Wednesday.

The game ended in a draw, with Staines making a massive 302-3 off 55 overs, with J Welch (81) and G Cole (63no) also in the runs.

Sam Latchford then top scored for Feast with 74 in their 267-9 from 53 overs with B Staines collecting 4-50.

A Matthew Drake XI were 63-run winners over Feast on Thursday, with Edward Manchett hitting 68 at the top of the order in their 213-9 off 40 overs.

Connor Withers (5-29) stood with the ball for the Warboys Feast XI, who then made 150-9 from their 40 overs.

TUCKER PREMIER

WITH Division One leaders March Town only drawing at Foxton, Godmanchester Town closed the gap at the top following their 56-run victory at Khalsa.

Captain Matt Pateman (76) led from the front as Town, batting first, were all out for 166.

Elliott Baldwin (5-53) then took over with the ball while Chethan William also backed up well with another four victims as Goddy bowled their hosts out for 110 in reply.

Saturday’s results leave second-placed Goddy 12 points behind March, with seven league matches to play.

Ramsey – 25 points adrift of March – won’t have given up on their own EAPL promotion aspirations after smashing hapless Ickwell to move up one place into third.

Having posted 279-4, Ickwell never looked like getting anywhere near the 280 required to win and collapsed to 35 all out.

Fifth-placed St Ives Town were held to a disappointing draw at home by bottom club Cambridge Granta.

Reuan Williams (79) and Steven Smith (71) helped St Ives to their total of 267-4 batting first.

But, despite three wickets apiece for Bevis Moynan and Mitchel Chandler, Cambridge managed to hold out for a draw, finishing on 229-9.

In Division Two, there was a comprehensive 90-run victory for Godmanchester Town seconds at home against Abington.

Nick Willmer top scored with 62 in the hosts’ 207 all out, before Adam Rendall (6-31) ripped though the visitors’ batting line-up and they eventually departed for 117.

Elsewhere, third-placed Waresley slipped to a five-wicket defeat at Newborough.

Matt Rawling (52) and Paul Field (77) shared a 110-run stand for the second wicket and guided the visitors to 207-6 batting first.

But the hosts reached their 208 win target for the loss of just five wickets with 10 overs to spare.

CCA SENIOR LEAGUE

YELLING returned to winning ways in Division Two after recording an eight-wicket home win over Milton.

Sam Johnson (4-15) was the hosts’ leading bowler as Milton, batting first after losing the toss, were all out for 154. Wicket keeper Jack Crawley, meanwhile, took five catches.

Johnson then struck 80 to guide Yelling home and was well supported by opener Bryan Topham, who finished unbeaten on 53.

SMITH BARRY JUNIOR CUP

RAMSEY seconds are into this season’s Smith Barry Junior Cup final after a thrilling two-wicket semi-final win at Warboys on Sunday.

The hosts, batting first, were bowled out for 181 with Alex Grange (34) top scoring while Daniel Malem (3-46) and Vince Woodward (3-29) shone with the ball for Rams.

In reply, the visitors got home with two wickets in hand, with 34 again the top score of the innings (Malem) while Grange collected 4-51 with the ball.