Ramsey go top of the TuckerGardner Premier with a win over struggling St Ives Town

Godmancheter batsman James Howells against Waresley on Saturday. (Image: Archant)

THERE were contrasting fortunes at The Cricketfield in Ramsey on Saturday where the home side beat TuckerGardner League Premier Division strugglers St Ives Town to go top of the division with previous leaders Wisbech Town slipping up against March Town.

Waresley bowler Freddie Nicholds in action against Ramsey. (Image: Archant)

The Ramsey captain, Taylor West (89 from 86 balls), starred with a wonderful display of batsmanship, but opener Simon Cafferkey wasn’t far behind with his 84 from 81, a knock that included 12 fours.

Declaring after 40 overs, with the loss of just three wickets, Ramsey had set St Ives a total of 238. St Ives managed just 71 in 24.1 overs, Michael Kay proving too much of a handful with 6-46 and Sam Rippington soaking up the other four batsmen for the loss of just 15 runs. For the losers, Ryan Withers top-scored with 31.

West told The Hunts Post: “It was a strong all round performance to be fair – the top order set it up for the bowlers.

“It’s great being top at the half way stage – we just need to keep on going. It was a bit of a surprise that Wsbech lost but a welcome one.”

The Godmanchester Town bowlers dominated in their win over Waresley who won the toss, put themselves into bat, and made little progress against the home side’s medium pace attack.

Eventually bowled out for just 61, the visitors never had a real target to bowl at, but the Godmanchester batsmen also struggled as the ball seamed around.

In the end, the hosts showed great patience and ran out very comfortable winners in a game that saw few boundaries.

Waresley lost skipper Simon Donald for just three runs and were quickly in trouble at 31-5. Only Chris Lewis reached double figures as the wickets continued to tumble and when opening bowler Paul Jefferson (3-22) was rested and Laurie March (2-4) replaced him to claim two more fell. Waresley lost their last four wickets for just eight runs with Elliott Baldwin picking up 3-20.

Baqar Ali (2-31) and Nigel Buckingham-Jones (1-23) bowled tightly for the visitors and the Godmanchester batsmen struggled for runs but Matt Davies-Binge (13) and the captain Matt Pateman (18) took the side to within 19 runs of victory with Wayne Bradley (12 not out) seeing them home.

In the Premier Two division, second-placed Eaton Socon continued their good run with a six-wicket win over Ickwell.

After being put into bat, Ickwell were dismissed for just 85 with Ben Gowling taking 5-52 and Roan Haarhoff 4-6.

Eaton lost three early wickets and found themselves on 12-3 before Ray Tudor (34) and Matt Rawling (23 not out) took control of the situation and saw them home for the loss of just four wickets.

Warboys went down to a two-wicket defeat to visitors Yaxley despite setting their opponents a reasonable target of 186.

Oliver Fox (34) top-scored for the home side for whom only Jake Moore and Jack Skidmore failed to make doubles figures in their nine-wicket 48-over knock. But Yaxley opener Stuart Brown carried his bat for a fine 72 as they reached 187 with just two balls of thier innings to spare.

HUNTS COUNTY BATS HUNTS LEAGUE

CRAIG Leigh scored a magnificent 126, which included six sixes and 14 fours, in Huntingdon & District’s excellent 15-run win over Nassington II in Division One of the Hunts County Bats League.

Leigh opened and was sixth man out as the second-placed team worked hard to keep up their chase of leaders Blunham. In the end, Huntingdon were 225 all out in the 45th over with Phil Sinn (4-21) and Kashaf Hussain (3-30) plugging away with the ball to get Nassington all out for 210.

Godmanchester Town II took the honours in the Division One Hunts derby with a 71-run win over Waresley II.

James Howells (57) starred with the bat for the home side as they put on 219 for eight wickets in their 48 overs.

The beginning of Waresley’s reply was disastrous with their first five batsmen all failing to reach double figures. But for Jim Keys’ 46 the deficit would have been embarrassing. As it was, Waresley managed to scrape through to the end of their innings for 148-8.

Both sides shared the wickets between their bowlers with Goddy’s Steve Marsh (3-36) the only one to get three.

Peterborough Town III beat Eaton Socon II by two wickets in Division Two with McCauley Clark hitting 39 as his team stumbled to 102 all out.

In reply, the Peterborough side reached 103 in 28.5 overs with Eaton’s Ryan Worboys recording figures of 3-30.

Alconbury were probably quite confident when they set Cople a target of 198 with opener Harley Rosser-James hitting an excellent 77 and Richard King adding 44 – but the home side lost just two wickets as they smashed their way to 202 in just 28.5 overs.

Bottom side Warboys II fell to an eight-wicket defeat to leaders Hampton while Sawtry were a wicket worse off losing by nine to a rampant Old Eastonians.

In Division Three Huntingdon & District II climbed off the bottom of the table with a great batting performance against Jinnah.

A poor bowling performance allowed Jinnah to reach 225 but a century opening stand by the 13-year-old Murray Reid (33) and his father Andy (49), together with another century stand between Mohammed Iqbal (72 not out) and Phil Wright (31) saw the hosts home for a six-wicket win with 10 overs to spare.

Also in Division Three Houghton & Wyton had a six-wicket win over Blunham II while Jonathan Mews hit 45 for Buckden but ended up on the losing side against Newborough II. Neil Tuffin hit 56 as Upwood reached 152-8 but, despite James Milner’s five wickets for 22 runs, they were beaten by one wicket by leaders Caistor & Ailsworth II.

Ramsey III had a great five-wicket win over Werrington III in Division Four with Steve Buddle hitting 69 not out and Tom Burns taking 3-24.

Oliver Stevens took 4-15 for Upwood II when they beat Warboys III in the big Division Five derby. The bowler had already top-scored with 56 as Upwood set their neighbours a target of 170 at Forge Way. The home side’s top scorer was Chris Hoy but his 29 was the highlight of their 107 all out.

CAMBS JUNIOR LEAGUE

NEEDINGWORTH secured the bragging rights in their Cambs Junior Division One North Hunts derby with St Ives Town II with a comfortable victory on Saturday.

After opting to bat on a flat pitch, St Ives were never allowed to settle as Needingworth’s seven bowlers shared the wickets with Lee Smith (3-12) ending with the best figures.

The hosts posted a below par 155 all out and in reply Needingworth were never troubled with Smith (56), Callum Mitcham (49 not out) and Thomas Mitcham (20 not out) seeing them home with 12 overs and seven wickets to spare.