The Crocus Speared………………

In typical fashion the British weather teased us with some perfect cricket conditions in the two weeks prior to the scheduled start of the season.

On Saturday, the Sawston and Babraham side travelled to Downham Stow, who were denied a place in the EAPL by defeat in last year’s place-offs, to commence their pre-season. They arrived to bright but cold conditions, with most players opting to wear more layers than the average onion. The Rams were offered first use of a deck, in the superb surroundings of the Stow Hall estate. Just before the scheduled start proceedings were halted by a brief snow shower, accompanied by a threatening sky. After a brief respite some more prolonged snow fell leaving the ground resembling a Christmas card image. At that point the game was called off and the Sawston boys retired to the local hostelry for a team bonding meal.

Fortunately, Sunday’s weather was a huge improvement as the Rams travelled to local rivals Saffron Walden, for the annual pre-season friendly. The weather had been a bit kinder to Saffron Walden yesterday when they completed a six wicket win over EAPL rivals Sudbury. The home side were looking to make it seven wins on the spin from the back end of 2021 and the start of the 2022 season. The visitors, again, were allowed to bat first.

It was strange seeing the Sawston openers walk out without either Matthew Hague or Waqas Hussain being present, their absence creating new opportunities for others to grasp. The new partnership of Ben Benson (25) and Charlie Lewis (21) gave the visitors a steady start as they added forty for the first wicket. Benson’s dismissal brought new, but returning, signing Luke Spears to the crease. The home side sniffed blood when Lewis, Callum Guest and ‘trialist’ Ed Fletcher all departed leaving the Rams 77 for 4, with almost half of the overs gone. The game however was then taken away from the home side by a spectacular 230 run partnership, off just 146 balls, between Spears and Tim Moses. The Crocus wilted under the fire as the pair feasted on 21 boundaries and 12 maximums. Spears made in back-to-back centuries for the Rams, with his latest, 136 coming in just 96 balls (14 x 4, 7 x 6), following his previous ton (109) some 2,134 days before! Moses who struggled for fitness and top form in 2021 looked both fit and back to his best as he finished 85 not out (83 balls, with & x 4, and 5 x 6).

Tim treated the crowd to some massive strikes as the nearby Stansted Airport thought about diverting planes. The innings finished with an outrageous switch hit six from Ben Clilverd as the Rams finished on an impressive 328 for 5, with home side contributing 49 extras!.

In reply Walden were soon in trouble with the first four wickets being shared by Clilverd and James Vandepeer with only 19 on the board. Opener Nick Taylor (19) tried to hold the innings together but when he and Stanley Leach (18) both fell the Crocus was again wilting at 74 for 6. It required a patient 38 from Luke Ormsby to get the home side into three figures and he was last out at 115. Clilverd (4-33) and Vandepeer (3-21) starred with the ball with the other three wickets being shared by Moses, Guest and debutant Callum McLean.

The guys were delighted with the win and performance but even happier to have shaken off the cobwebs.