Round-up: IT WAS a bittersweet day for Needingworth on Saturday, as the club beat visitors Littleport but succumbed to relegation from Cambs Junior 1.

Cricket round-up

NEEDINGWORTH

IT WAS a bittersweet day for Needingworth on Saturday, as the club beat visitors Littleport but succumbed to relegation from Cambs Junior 1.

After a below-par season, Needingworth finally lost their battle against the drop, but can take heart from the fact that they went down fighting.

Asked to bat first, Needingworth responded well to the challenge on a bowler-friendly wicket with all but one of their batsmen recording a double-figure score in their final total of 196-9. Kyle Vallis (30) led the way and good support came from Mark Sirot-Smith (28).

Littleport got away to a steady start with opener Jamie Leonard (38) having few problems as he helped the score along to 57-1. Leonard’s departure, and some fine bowling that included spells from Bob Milne (3-24) and Callum Mitcham (3-22), contributed to Littleport being dismissed for 147.

Needingworth captain Ian Armstrong said: “After a disappointing season it was so pleasing to finish with such a committed performance. Our batting showed maturity and we bowled in the right places.

“There is no reason that we cannot recapture a place in Division 1 next year and that will be our overriding aim. The players have enough ability and we are a young and improving side.”

HUNTINGDON

HUNTINGDON II celebrated clinching the Hunts Division 4 championship after a hard-fought win at Newborough II.

The hosts batted first in a rain-shortened game and tight bowling saw them restricted to 135-5 from 42 overs.

Huntingdon slumped to 4-2 but Nick Kumpukkul (52), with support from Phil Wright and Chris Pegg, got them to 136-6 for the celebrations to begin.

In Hunts 1 there was heartache for Huntingdon despite a good six-wicket win over Old Eastonians.

News that the Newborough game against Eaton Socon had been abandoned dampened spirits as the 11 points awarded to Newborough were enough to win them the title.

Huntingdon had restricted Eastonians to 151-6, which looked well within reach for Huntingdon. With Nick Kumpukkul (72) bossing the bowlers, Huntingdon reached 152-4 with ease.

Warboys III hit 206-8 against a mediocre Huntingdon III attack with Ed Trafford (59) leading the way. Only Ben George (3-26) gave the visiting batsmen real problems.

In reply, Huntingdon were shot out for a miserable 52, as Zubair Maqsood (15) showed some form but found no partners. Peter Ames (5-32) and Jake Tingey (4-15) did the damage for Warboys.

ALCONBURY

ALCONBURY completed a mixed league programme against neighbours Sawtry with a resounding win that gave them a third place finish in Hunts 1.

Ryan Tyler (51*) and captain Gary Cole (46) steered the home side to a competitive 182-8 with Ian Bonsall snatching three of the wickets to fall. Sawtry’s reply was well off the pace and only knocks from middle-order batsmen Hayden Bream (35) and Bonsall (30) gave the reply any substance. With the Ewing father and son bowling combination, Richard and Dexter, ripping out five wickets for just 20 runs, Sawtry finished 114 all out and were relegated to Division 2.

Alconbury II had few answers to the Eaton Socon III line-up in Sunday’s Hunts 4 clash. They were bowled out for a mere 79 runs, and the Eaton batsmen then knocked off the 80 runs needed without losing a wicket.

WARESLEY

WARESLEY recovered from last week’s top of the table defeat to St Ives to record an emphatic 96-run win against relegation candidates Barnack, and leap back to the summit of Tucker 2.

Batting first, Waresley struggled to break free from some tight bowling and a closing score of 157 all out would have looked frail without the 30 extras.

Barnack’s reply failed totally against just two bowlers, as Nigel Buckingham-Jones (6-16) and Phill Gillett (4-42) ran riot. They bowled unchanged and needed just 22 overs to dispatch the Barnack line-up for a paltry 61 all out. The win was enough to put Waresley one point clear at the top with two games left.

ST IVES

SAFFRON Walden II dented the Ives promotion hopes with a massive 89-run win in Tucker 2 on Saturday.

Walden batted first and were held in check by Kevin Sequenza and Kevin Gilder, who took three wickets apiece as Walden totalled 183-7.

A total that looked very achievable at tea was soon a distance away as Nick Batcheler tore into the Ives batting. Only Reuan Williams (24) stood defiant as six wickets fell to Batcheler and Ives crumbled to 94 all out.

FENSTANTON

MILTON III were made to struggle on a damp wicket by the Fenstanton bowlers in Cambs Junior 4B.

Milton were all out in 36 overs that yielded just 99 runs with four of the Fenstanton attack picking up two wickets apiece.

Fenstanton’s batsmen found no terrors in the pitch and with Mike Piaggesi (84*) in imperious form they reached 102-3 with ease. Fenstanton need victory in their final game at home to Elsworth II and must hope Dullingham suffer a reversal at champions Cambourne to secure second place in the table and promotion.

RAMSEY

DAVID Carlaw (4-13) could not prevent a Ramsey defeat against Camden in Tucker 1. Camden reached 154 all out with Michael Kay and Mark Edwards taking three apiece to support the accurate Carlaw.

Ramsey’s chase stuttered to 122 all out with only Kay (21) showing any purpose.

SOMERSHAM

THERE was double delight for Somersham as both the club’s teams took good wins at the weekend.

In Senior 3, Great Chishill were miserable with the bat as they imploded to 54 all out, with three wickets apiece going to Darren Jessop and Peter Coleman.

There were few problems as Somersham completed an easy win at 55-3.

The second XI ripped apart a poor Wisbech IV with John Manning (5-20) in good form.

Wisbech totalled 83, but Aled David (54*) then showed some class to help Somersham cruise to 84-3.