A full round-up of the weekend cricket action in Huntingdonshire

WARESLEY

WARESLEY took a step closer to promotion from Tucker 2 with a one-wicket win over Cambridge NCI.

They lead the table by a single point from Ickwell – their opponents on the final day of the season – and are 13 ahead of St Ives Town.

They got off to the perfect start on Saturday, removing both NCI openers without a run on the board, but Sandeep Chauhan’s 85 solidified his team’s innings and helped them to 200 all out. Nigel Buckingham-Jones (4-59) and Terry Hayden (3-56) were a constant threat for Waresley.

The home team started slowly in reply, and it wasn’t until Phil Masdin (47) at number four that the chase took shape. It looked unlikely at 90-7 but a rearguard action from Steve Warman (21), Simon Blows (43), and Buckingham-Jones (24) took them over the line at 201-9.

FENSTANTON

FENSTANTON secured promotion by just one-hundredth of a point after they won and leaders Cambourne were thrashed.

Fenny beat Elsworth II comfortably, but promotion was clinched when Dullingham, second before play began, beat leaders Cambourne. The result sent Dullingham top and dropped Cambourne, with an average of 15.08 points, below behind Fenstanton on 15.09.

After losing skipper Mike Piaggesi to the first ball of the match, Will Webster (70) and Mahmood Yakub (45) brought the home side into contention with a stand of 86, and Andy Taylor (47) ensured the Fenstanton total reached 212.

After the vigorous Elsworth opening partnership was broken, the visitors slipped from 37-0 to 77 all out, as Brett Logue (3-14) topped the figures, aided by a pair of wickets apiece for Taylor and Piaggesi.

GODMANCHESTER

MARCH Town inflicted Goddy’s third heavy defeat in a row as their top order once again crumbled.

Goddy were at 31-6 at one stage in their pursuit of March’s modest 183, and it would have been over sooner without Taylor West (51).

He had earlier given Goddy hope with a five-wicket haul once captain Paul Swannell had invited March to bat. His figures of 5-26 took the March middle order from 97-3 to 182-9 at the close.

A reshuffled batting lineup saw Swannell fall first ball, and Adam Cousins followed for a duck the next over. Ben Clement added 18, but Goddy were soon at 31-6, before West stretched the score to 124 all out.

Godmanchester need a win at Ramsey on the final day to stand a chance of regaining third place from March.

ST IVES

BEVIS Moynan took six wickets in his team’s win over Barnack in Tucker 2.

Moynan made the Barnack batsmen toil with figures of 6-41, and Robert Setchell (3-42) and a run out saw Barnack hit 83 all out.

Stephen Setchell (36) was the mainstay of the Ives reply, and Reuan Williams (10) and Moynan (11) chipped in to get Ives to 85-5.

The win keeps Ives in third place, as the battle with Waresley and Ickwell for the two promotion spots reaches its climax.

St Ives II lost at home to Newmarket Town, who set a target of 175-7. Steve Cant’s men had no reply and folded to 118 all out.

Ives IV bowled out hosts Burwell for 191 in their Junior 5A clash. The home side started scoring at six an over, but Melanie Wood’s spell of the season saw her collect 4-6 to reduce the rate.

St Ives opener Steve Baxter (78*) saw off the opening bowlers and once he was joined by Richard Bowater (58*), they both opened their shoulders and finished the match with nearly nine overs to spare.

CRANFIELD CUP

ELTISLEY retained the eight-a-side Cranfield Cup in an action-packed day at Buckden.

The hosts and Eltisley each won their game against a young Sawtry side, making the third game a winner-takes-all affair.

Eltisley batted first and Tom Johnson (27) and Jack Crawley (20)* got them to 105-5.

Buckden’s John Mews nipped out two of the wickets and then put in the outstanding performance of the final with an elegant 40, before four run-outs left Buckden short at 91-5.

Earlier in the day, Sawtry managed 75-7 against Buckden, with Luke Smith (22) the star batsman but Paul Tidey (36*) rolled back the years and with Charlie Thurston (30*) got Buckden to 76-1.

Eltisley did a similar job against Sawtry, who were expertly led by Ian Fowler. Sawtry’s 73-5 with Smith and Fowler (both 21) was low and Eltisley reached 76-3 thanks to Claude Peters (34).

In the Plate Final, St Neots lifted the silverware after keeping Great Staughton at bay. Saints captain Dipak Patel (39) and Dean Shipp (21) took the score to 105-5 and despite David Head (20), a hat-trick by Adam Staughton (3-6) left Great Staughton’s innings in tatters at 64-7.

The Cranfield Cup and Coote Cup AGM is at Warboys CC on September 28 at 7.30pm. New clubs are welcome. Details from Dave Woods on 01480 890083.

WARBOYS

WARBOYS beat Werrington by eight wickets at home in Rutland 6.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat, amassing 117-8 as James Trafford (3-7) and Richard O’Leary (3-27) made the most of the conditions.

The Witches didn’t need long to reach the target as openers Daniel Wright (44) and Frank Gloster (51) did the majority of the work in their total of 118-2.

Warboys II beat Werrington in Hunts 3 as Matthew Lavender (3-29) restricted them to 150-8. Sam Latchford (86) and Alex Grange (58) atoned for Chris Hoy’s duck at they cantered to 151-1.

Adam Bird took 4-16 as Warboys II beat Whittlesey in Rutland 7. Daniel Coulson (2-22) took his two wickets in his first over as the visitors totalled a measly 67 all out. Latchford (37) struck again with the bat and Warboys passed the target with two wickets down.

JUNIOR CRICKET

EATON Socon won the Hunts Cricket U9 finals on Sunday. Qualifying as best league runners-up, Socon put in a team performance to beat Peterborough in the semi-final before defeating Dean in the final. Joseph Watling was named man of the tournament.