Ramsey issued a statement of intent as they kept themselves in Tucker Gardner League Division One title contention yesterday.

Captain Michael Cafferkey led the way as his side piled up the runs before prolific wicket-taker Mark Edwards returned to spearhead a super bowling effort in a 197-run drubbing of Burwell 2nds.

Cafferkey smacked 10 sixes in a 98-ball effort of 123 and also put on an opening stand of 214 with Aussie ace Dean Jones, who fell eight runs short of his own century.

James Markland added a further 52 as Ramsey roared to a monster 353-8 before removing their hosts for just 156.

Edwards, the leading bowler in the top-flight, was straight back in the groove with 4-32 after being away for the club’s last two games. Elliot Cafferkey helped himself to 2-13.

Ramsey’s haul of maximum points reduced the gap between themselves and table-toppers Foxton to 28 points with five games remaining.

Fellow locals Waresley were unable to do them a favour yesterday when going down by three wickets at Foxton.

Openers Jack Richards (65) and Nicholas Taylor (61) set Waresley on the way to 240-6 with a 116-run opening stand before Alex Scully (54) also hit a half-century.

But Foxton passed that tally with three wickets in hand and more than four overs to spare.

Godmanchester stay fourth despite slipping to a 17-run home reverse at the hands of Ketton – and it proved to be a particularly painful afternoon for Adam Cousins.

The home player took no further part in the game after being struck on the head by a piece of woodwork which fell from the sightscreen he was moving.

Godmanchester bowled well to remove the visitors for 144 in a low-scoring affair with Russel Withey (4-10) and captain Paul Swannell (4-11) excelling.

But Godmanchester were unable to eclipse a modest target as half of their 10 batsmen were dismissed for ducks.

Only youngster James Dean (34), overseas player Jarryd Phillips (23) and Elliott Baldwin (23) were able to make any sort of impression as they were dismissed for 127.

There was plenty of drama down at Peppercorns Lane as Eaton Socon continued their return to form . . . just!

Joe Watling hit a boundary to guide the locals to a one-wicket success against Histon with three balls to spare.

Matthew Taylor (4-20) and captain Jonny Carpenter (3-20) had earlier impressed with the ball as Eaton Socon dismissed the visitors for 185.

Surpassing that score proved to be a tough task as they were reduced to 80-6 and 111-7 during their reply.

However, a half-century from Ray Tudor, who hit 51 off 45 balls, was the turning point before Watling kept his cool to finish the job.

TUCKER GARDNER LEAGUE

Division One

BURWELL 2NDS lost to RAMSEY by 197 runs

Ramsey 353-8 (M. Cafferkey 123, D. Jones 92, J. Markland 52).

Burwell 2nds 156 (M. Edwards 4-32).

EATON SOCON beat HISTON by 1 wkt

Histon 185 (M. Taylor 4-20, J. Carpenter 3-20).

Eaton Socon 189-9 (R. Tudor 51, M. Kirkham 37).

FOXTON beat WARESLEY by 3 wkts

Waresley 240-6 (J. Richards 65, N. Taylor 61, A. Scully 54, S. Johnson 41).

Foxton 244-7.

GODMANCHESTER lost to KETTON by 17 runs

Ketton 144 (R. Withey 4-10, P. Swannell 4-11).

Godmanchester 127 (J. Dean 34).