2 wins & 2 losses for The RAMS!

Sawston and Babraham went into Saturday’s round if matches in great form following last weekend’s five from five, five-star performances. Each of its three most senior sides were also defending respective 100% records and places at the top of their leagues.

So, by the time Callum Guest (28 from 64 balls) had joined Rishi Patel (25 from 47), Matthew Hague, Waqas Hussain, Noah Thain and Ben Clilverd the Rams were teetering on the brink at 90 for 6, and the pristine record was in danger. Even this represented a bit of a fight back as Tristan Blackledge’s(4-49) three early wickets had left them at 19 for 3. Blackledge’s opening bowling partner Tom Rash (5-33) joined the party and Matt Allen (1-51) got the prized wicket of Patel. Mildenhall were again putting in another strong performance which had seen then climb to second in the table, with this table topping battle being the Rams third consecutive contest at the summit of the EAPL following wins over Swardeston and Bury.

Alex Stafford a school-master who’s work commitments have restricted his appearances so far this term wasn’t even in the starting line up at the start of the week. Underlining Sawston’s strength in depth Stafford with help from Charlie Lewis (21) and the tail, added 105 with partnerships with Skipper Dan Heath, James Vandepeer and Mark Smith. Stafford finished unbeaten on 69 (from 86 balls) and added fifty-five for the last wicket with Mark Smith the last man out. Lewis was himself recalled from the 2nds following an impressive fifty last week.

Mark Smith, following up his five-wicket haul last wicket was again in sensational form as he took 5-20 with his opening bowling partner Vandepeer (2-34) also chipping in with early wickets as Mildenhall were blown away finding themselves at 39 for 7. The Allen’s Tom and Matt both added 23 and Peter Worthington 19 not out as Mildenhall were eventually bowled out for 105, Guest with 3-7 delivering the victory.

Elsewhere there were wins for Swardeston and Bury and for Cambridge who got off the mark. After the eighth round of fixtures, as we approach half distance, the Rams have a nice 37-point lead from perennial challengers Swardeston with Bury in third.

SBCC’s seconds who were top of the Cambs and Hunts Premier Three visited second place Southill Park. In an entertaining game on a tricky wicket, which had unfortunately been left uncovered during Friday’s ‘monsoon’, both sides tried their best to lose the game.

The home side lost the toss and were not surprised to see themselves batting. The openers dug deep as the score progressed to 34 for 2. However, they were looking good as Adnan Bashir (27) and skipper Shaylen Tomlinson-Patel (42) added runs and momentum. The curse of drinks struck as the home side lost these two and a further four wickets as 111 for 2 became 122 for 8. Jake Raven at first strangled the progress by drying up the runs before he ended up with 3-24 (from 9 overs). Will Bailey with a mixed bag also picking up 3-36, despite a dozen extra deliveries. Wajahat Ali’s 24 not out then allowed Southill to reach 162 for 9 as the Rams failed to finish them off.

In reply early wickets tumbled and the Sawston innings was in tatters at 61 for 7, with the in-form Ant Phillips (21) and Marc Pearson (10) the only two of the top six to record double figures. Skipper Nick Griggs (34 from 31) then counter-attacked with a typically well struck innings as he added 54 with Bailey (35 from 35) to take the visitors to 115 for 7 at drinks, needing another 48 at three an over. The ‘drinks curse’ struck again as Griggs ‘died by the sword’ picking out deep square leg with the first delivery after the re-start. Bailey took up the mantle but the Rams fell 16 runs short as James White (3-19), Scott Spicer (2-18) and Ali (2-39) ended SBCC’s perfect record. The visitors perhaps reflecting on the fact the 14 of the 16 runs defeat came in extras (not counting the extra runs from extra balls)! Sawston still sit top with a 26-point lead although Southill Park and others have a game in hand.

SBCC’s 3rd XI pace attack made light work of Newton in Division 3S when the experienced pair of Sean Ward (5-9) and Tom Champness (3-28) tore through the batting to dump the visitors our for just 55. Torin Phelps helped himself to 2-2. Incredibly Tom Lewis making 36 of the total. Sawston’s usually impressive batting stuttered a little but got home in the eighteenth over for a six wicket win as Jake Ellis switched his top order around to give some lads some time in the middle. Wes Potschul was top scorer with 21. The Rams are still unbeaten and remain second just behind Fen Ditton.

An in-experienced SBCC 4th team containing six teenagers and four debutants went down to Division 5’s runaway leaders Stapleford by seven wickets. Sawston batted first an d could only muster 102, with James Watson (18) top scoring as Oz Christie picked up 4-21 and Dylan Bose (3-16). The home side shared the runs as they got home inside sixteen overs.