The latest reports from around the local cricket scene

TUCKER PREMIER

HOPES of a return to East Anglian Premier League cricket are still alive for second-placed Godmanchester Town after their 72-run home victory over Wisbech Town in Division One on Saturday.

Visitors Wisbech were bowled out for just 70 with Elliott Baldwin (4-29) and Chethan William - who took 4-4 off his impressive 6.5 over spell - the leading wicket takers.

Earlier, Wayne Bradley top scored with 41 as Goddy posted 142 all out.

Much though will depend on league leaders March Town slipping up and, after their home win over Sawston, March sit 27 points clear of Goddy with eight matches to play.

The two sides clash at the Parks on September 3 - in what is shaping up to be a title and promotion decider.

Fourth-placed Ramsey’s realistic promotion hopes are slipping away after their drawn home fixture with Khalsa.

Travis Townsend finished unbeaten on 80 as the home side posted 212-7 but, in reply, the stubborn visitors ended their innings on 160-9 to claim the draw.

Oliver Verrall stood out with the ball for Ramsey, bagging himself 4-50.

Elsewhere, sixth-placed St Ives Town were winners by 39 runs at last season’s Division One champions Camden.

The visitors set Camden 144 to win having been bowled out, but Bevis Moynan’s 5-27 ensured the result went the way of St Ives, who eventually bowled their hosts out for 104.

In Tucker Division Two, Waresley remain in third and on course for a top-two promotion spot after they defeated Weston Colville by six wickets.

Visitors Weston could only muster 73 before being bowled out – with Nigel Buckingham-Jones picking up 3-4 off six overs - and the home side reached their winning target for the loss of four wickets.

Matthew Knaepel’s 87 was just unable to do Waresley a favour - and get Godmanchester Town seconds over the line - as they went down narrowly by five runs at second-placed Saffron Walden seconds.

Saffron ended on 201-6 as Rob Lowin bagged three wickets but, despite the best efforts of Knaepel, Goddy were then bowled out for 196 - falling agonisingly short of victory.

HUNTS COUNTY LEAGUE

DEFEAT BY 68 runs at home to Waresley seconds on Saturday ended Eaton Socon’s bid of promotion up to the Tucker Premier from Division One.

It had all started so well for the home side, who bowled Waresley out for just 140.

Adam Newman (5-28) and Shane De Silva (4-38) starred with the ball, with only Simon Blows, who struck 62, succeeding with the bat for the visitors.

But hopes of victory were soon dashed for Eaton Socon as were skittled out for just 72 in reply, Pat Ellerbeck collecting 4-12.

Huntingdon kept their unbeaten run going with a low-scoring 22-run victory at home against Alconbury.

Put in to bat on a damp wicket, Huntingdon struggled to 121 all out with opener Sheroon Imran top scoring with 40.

But, in reply, the visitors could only muster 99 all out, with Freddie Khan’s 3-16 sealing the win.

Warboys won by 60 runs at Ufford Park with opener Daniel Wright (62) leading the way in their 207 all out.

He then called a fine display by picking up 3-21 as the hosts were all out for 147.

Meanwhile, a third successive win saw Huntingdon seconds climb off the bottom of the Division Three table for the first time this season, as they won by 39 runs at Warboys seconds.

Opener Nathan Pond carried his bat for 85, while Andy Reid made 65 in their 213-5 after 45 overs.

In reply, Warboys were never up with the rate due to the tight bowling with Adrian Rose (3-34) in particular as they finished on 174-5.

Only Chris Hoy (42) and James Wright (39no) got going for the hosts.

RUTLAND LEAGUE

CARL BAKER struck 83 as Eaton Socon recorded a 50-run home victory over Orton Park in Division Two.

Having posted 222 all out, Adam Newman and Ryan Warboys then bagged three wickets apiece as Orton were bowled out for 172 in reply.

Alconbury seconds continued their recent good run of form as they were 62-run winners at Castor & Ailsworth seconds in Division Six.

Dave Cotton led from the front as he hit 88 in the visitors’ 214 all out and this total proved too much for the hosts as Neil Suckling (4-28) ensured they were all out for 152.

CCA JUNIOR LEAGUE

NEEDINGWORTH warmed up for this weekend’s clash with Division 2A leaders Leverington by beating Chatteris seconds by 17 runs on Saturday.

It was their fifth win on the bounce - which moves them up to fourth in the table - and owed much to Ian Armstrong (83) and fellow opener James Baldock (78).

The pair put on 161 for the first wicket, which laid the foundations for their strong-looking total of 259-5.

Hosts Chatteris started strongly in reply, reaching 138-1 but in the end finished 18 short of their victory target on 242-5.

An enforced month-long break did nothing to change Fenstanton’s fortunes in 3B, as they went down to their tenth successive defeat at home to fellow-strugglers Cambridge NCI fourths.

Opener Mike Piaggesi was dropped four times before going on to make 68 - his fifth half-century in seven innings.

But 90-1 soon became 155 all out for Fenstanton and it wasn’t enough to prevent Cambridge from winning, a feat they achieved with an over to spare.

CCA SENIOR LEAGUE

THIRD-PLACED Yelling had a nightmare at the office on Saturday as they went down to a convincing eight-wicket defeat at lowly City of Ely in Division Two.

The visitors made a meagre 77 before being bowled out with only three of the order reaching double figures, before Ely cruised home for the loss of only two wickets.

In Division Three on Saturday, Somersham Town lost out by 36 runs at home against Eversden.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, the visitors were bowled out for 176 with in-form bowler Darren Jessop (6-20) ripping through the order and following up on his five-for in their previous match.

However that was as good as it got for Somersham, who were all out for 140 in reply with Luke Robinson (37) top scoring.

FENLAND TROPHY

A SEVENTH-WICKET stand of 71 between Darren Jessop (41) and Pete Coleman (45no) helped guide Somersham to a 61-run victory over Witcham on Sunday.

The partnership helped them get 216-7 before Peter Liddle and Frank Haq took over with the ball, picking up two wickets each as Witcham finished short on 155-5.

YOUTH CRICKET

ALCONBURY U13s recorded their second victory of the season by defeating their St Ives counterparts on Friday.

Excellent knocks from Harry Cotton (46) and Harry Moran (44no) steered them to 165-3 off their allotted 20 overs.

St Ives started well in reply but, after a good innings of 33 from George Wilkinson, they were all out for 81.

Dougy Clark (2-14) and Fraser Hutton (2-7) doing the damage.