The Rams thwart Colonel Mustard, with the bat on the square

The Rams moved to the summit of the EAPL, on their own, for the first time this year; when they defeated Gt.Witchingham, who were fourth at the start of play, at Spicers by four wickets.

After almost a perfect start to the Summer the weather turned and after some very heavy overnight showers and some overcast conditions it was more like a typical April fixture. The groundstaff having to earn their breakfast to get the ground ready for play, there was a delayed start and a ten over reduction in the contest. It was therefore not too much of a surprise when SBCC skipper Callum Guest decided to bowl.

The decision was immediately vindicated when James Vandepeer removed James Spelman with the fourth ball of the day. However, Barney Morton (12) and Philip Mustard made light of the early loss and moved the score and their partnership to fifty (from 71 balls).  James Vandepeer (3-38) however struck again to remove Morton and Adam Chislett; Ben Claydon (3-38)  joined the party to remove Nico Reifer,  Mustard (50 from 57 deliveries) and Nathan Muggeridge as fifty for one became seventy for six! Five wickets falling for just twenty runs in fifty-four balls as the Rams tightened the screw. This was Mustard’s second successive fifty-plus score against the Rams. Witchingham’s captain James Hale and Kieran Elliot then steadied the ship as they took the Witches through to three figures and to lunch at one hundred and nineteen for six in thirty-seven overs. The pair extended their stand to fifty (from 84 balls) shortly after the break. Jack Beaumont ending the partnership when he dismissed Elliot (33 from 64 balls) to end his resistance with the score on one hundred and thirty-three for seven. Hale found another willing ally in James Page (17 from 46) and this allowed the skipper to move to a valuable half century (from 99 deliveries) before the pair too added exactly fifty runs. Ben Clilverd (1-40) accounting for Page before Jack Beaumont (3-35) trapped Corey Rushton in-front and then ended the opposition skipper’s vigil (61 off 108 balls); as the innings closed on one hundred and eighty-nine.

Looking at the scorecard it looked like the conditions including a slower than normal outfield made it difficult to get established and so although it looked like a below par total the home side wouldn’t have wanted to chase many more.

The opposition would have been nervous to see Wayne White and Callum Guest walking out together following last year’s sensational three hundred opening stand at Witchingham. The visitors had a brand-new opening partnership with the ball following the loss of experienced Norfolk duo Andy Hanby and Brett Stolworthy; and it was new signing Elliot who made the breakthrough when he had Guest caught behind with thirty-seven on the board. The skipper’s Cambridgeshire colleague White followed just five balls later as Muggeridge picked up his first when White (31 from 25 balls) played on. Nikhil Gorantla back in the flock after four games away and the in-form Claydon steadied the ship adding thirty-nine runs at just better than a run a ball; and with tea in sight Muggeridge returned to have Claydon (21 from 20) smartly caught by Reifer with the score on eighty. This ended Claydon’s hot-streak of five consecutive fifty-plus scores. Gorantla and Beaumont saw the Rams to tea at ninety-four for three after sixteen overs. Gorantla (26 from 40 balls) advanced down the track and yorked himself off the bowling of Monty Panesar (1-36) with just twelve added to the score at the break. At one hundred and five for four the visitors perhaps thought they were back in the contest. However, the Rams had two of their most experienced men at the crease and Lee Thomason, continuing his decent form, took the Rams to one hundred and fifty at the end of the thirty-fifth. Their fifty-stand followed, shortly after, from a steady ninety-six balls. Beaumont then reached his first half-century of the season. (from 66 balls). At one hundred and seventy-two for four the Rams were coasting to victory. However, Muggeridge (4-51) who seems to be enjoying the extra responsibility of leading the attack ended the sixty-seven-run stand by dismissing Thomason (31 from 72 balls) before dismissing Beaumont (55 from 76 deliveries) just five runs later as the Rams stuttered to one hundred and seventy-seven for six. Henry Wilson (14 not out from 18) and Clilverd (4 no) calmly saw the Rams over the line for a four-wicket win.

Elsewhere the overnight leaders Downham Stow held on, nine down, at resurgent Frinton and slip to third in the table. Sudbury are second on the ladder despite not being quite able to push for the win at Witham. Horsford got back on track by beating Copdock; to end their decent run. AB Wanders held on in a high scoring match at home to Swardeston to avoid a sixth straight defeat, and to stop the visitors gaining back-to-back victories. Mildenhall travails continued as Bury won comfortably by seven wickets at home in the Suffolk derby.

The second team’s up and down season continued after last week’s confidence building win they visited leaders Burwell and Exning with what on paper looked a stronger line up. This came to nought as they struggled their way to one hundred and eighteen in forty-three overs. Things were looking ok at ninety for three as stand in skipper Charlie Lewis (23 from 103 deliveries) ; Miguel Machado (40 from 61 balls) and Alex James (28 off 44) set the innings up. However they lost their last seven wickets for just twenty-eight runs in eleven overs. Tom Mangelsen (3-22); and braces for Nic Huckle (2-26), Daniel Baigent (2-29) and Josh Arksey (2-10) did the damage after Edward Manning (1-26) had accounted for the dangerous Yousuf Choudhary.

The leaders,  lost two quick wickets as the Rams overseas Darcy Murphy (2-22) accounted for both openers with the total still in the twenties. However, Dylan Hardy accompanied the prolific Paull Summerskill to take the score to fifty-nine. Tarun Mouli (1-36) hit back to dismiss Hardy but the Burwell skipper (53 not out from 57) and Nik Huckle (28 not out from 22 balls) took the leaders to a regulation win to remain top. It was a comprehensive win although winning the toss and deciding to field may have helped.

The Third team remain the only unbeaten Saturday side in the Club as they extended their run to four games to remain clear at the top of division one. However, there are still two other unbeaten sides in the division ; as the fixtures have a lopsided look. Ashwell won the toss and decided to bat; which perhaps was a surprise given the overnight rain and overcast conditions. A youthful Rams attack, with four bowlers under-16,  soon had the visitors in trouble reducing them to 50 for 7,  Vivaan Kilaru (4-10); Arnav Wadekar (2-24); and Zane Dennington (2-40) on his promotion from the fourths set the tone for the home side. Some late order runs from Ashwell’s number nine (50 off 25) and some good support from an ex-Ram Kumar, playing as an AP, saw them reach one hundred and sixty-four all out. The skipper Jake Ellis(1-38) and fourth team skipper Dom Cameron (1-2) picked up the other wickets. The skipper was pleased with the efforts from his young charges but less happy with the number of wides (that’s this week’s nets sorted!)

Jake thought the side also benefitted from the conditions which started to improve once the first drinks break had come and gone. The evergreen Wes Potschul made eighty-nine in the reply taking him over the two hundred mark for the three league games he’s played this year; 216 @ 72!). Wes has over six thousand runs listed on play-cricket in a career that has seen him play for the first, second and third teams. He received excellent support from Torin Phelps (29) before Daniel Pretorious (18 no) and Arnav Wadekar (9 no) with another couple of cameos saw the Rams over the line to win by four wickets.

The Rams were scheduled to start their defence of EAPL T20 title on Monday but hosts Mildenhall withdrew and the first round was rescheduled to Ramsey; against the invited hosts and Downham Stow. Downham repeated their 2024 play-off success to defeat Ramsey by a mere four runs. The Rams fielding a mixed side with a few second teamers and third team captain Jake Ellis were next on to face Downham. The Norfolk side did well to get to ninety-four after finding themselves 27-6.  With Jack Beaumont (3-16); George Darlow (3-14); Tarun Mouli (1-13); Ben Clilverd (1-24); Henry Wilson (1-10) and Julius Jackson (1-16) taking the wickets. The Rams went for quick runs to boost the net run rate with Yousuf Choudhary (38 @292 strike rate) and  Clilverd (22 no @100) they got home by four wickets one ball into the eleventh. In the second game the bowling unit again performed to dismiss Ramsey for 120 with Darlow (3-21); Mouli (2-19); Clilverd (2-21); and a wicket each for Beaumont, and Wilson. The Rams were 31 for 1 after four overs when the rain came to end proceedings.

The Rams move into the EAPL finals day to face Sudbury and AB Wanderers on a date and  at a venue to be confirmed.

It was a good week for the Rams in general as the Grifframs (our Girls) won on their first outing of the season; the Midweek XI won to make it four from four; and under 15 sides won three out of three in the week. Some notable individual performances were recorded:

Henry Cotton 62; Olly Humphreys 34; and Jake Ellis 4-6 all in the Midweek win.

Ethan Hayes Fenandez 53 retired not out & 47

Ferdy Piper 36

Josh Coleman 3-12

Felix Hincks 50 rno

Vivaan Kilaru 51 no

Dhrona 42

Dhrona and Ethan also hit half centuries for Cambridgeshire County age-group teams.

A few of the Rams were involved in the start of Cambridgeshire’s T20 campaign when they hosted Hertfordshire, on Sunday. Despite Lee Thomason’s 43 not out (@123 strike rate) and 22 apiece from Ben Claydon and Callum Guest they could only post 129; Herts chased this down for the loss of one wicket.

The second game was an absolute cracker as Claydon (30 @136); White (47 @167) and Thomason (44 no @147) helped the home side post 175. The first five batters were all Rams! This was only just enough as White conceded eleven off his first three balls of the final over before, holding his nerve, taking the final wicket with his fifth ball as Cambs won by three runs. Claydon with 2-9 and White 2-24 made solid contributions. Claydon bowling a very rare double-wicket maiden in this format!