There’s only one conclusive winner

Despite the heroic efforts of the groundstaff, at both of our grounds, in getting wickets prepared in a tricky week; and then getting wickets and the vulnerable areas covered overnight, mother nature was eventually declared a winner.

At Sawston despite the initial euphoria that we had had less rain than forecast there was still a monumental effort required by Will and Pat and the largely unskilled volunteers to get rid of all the water and sheets in time for a scheduled start. Swardeston won the toss and opted to field.

Despite the early loss of Yousuf Choudhary, the Rams skipper Callum Guest and Nikhil Gorantla progressed the score through to fifty at the end of the fourteenth; shortly before reaching their fifty partnership (from 85 balls) with the skipper looking the more fluent. The skipper hit the accelerator and his personal half century came at almost a run a ball. Three figures came next coming just before the century stand (from 139 deliveries), with the second fifty coming off just fifty-four balls. Gorantla then reached his maiden fifty for the Club (off 88 balls). The pair then took the Rams to the lunch break at one hundred and forty-five for one (in 36 overs). The lunch break was restorative for the bowling unit, and Lawrence Williams (2-57) in particular as he snared both Guest (88 from 122 balls) and then Gorantla (66 off  109) in the space of five runs. This was after the pair had added one hundred and sixty runs as the Rams stuttered to one hundred and sixty-nine for three. There was no respite however for the Swardeston attack as the in-form Ben Claydon came to the middle following Guest’s dismissal. Not for the first time in their respective cricketing careers Claydon found a willing ally in Jack Beaumont. The pair progressed the score past two hundred before they added another fifty-run partnership to their collection (in just 58 balls). The two fifty came up but one ball later Beaumont departed stumped off the bowling of Swardeston’s overseas Saranga Rajaguru (1-70) for a run a ball forty-five. Thomason followed just thirteen runs later undone by Richard Sims (1-29). Claydon then brought up his latest fifty (off 56 balls), to add to his three centuries and two other fifties in an eight-game sequence that has seen him accumulate five hundred and fifty-two runs at an average just shy of eighty! Henry Wilson added another not out as the forecast rain swept in. The Rams sensibly then declared on two hundred and seventy-two for five. The declaration enabled the Rams to maximise their points haul. Sadly, there was no further play as the heavens opened.

Elsewhere in the EAPL Neil Hornbuckle became the ninth player in the history of the competition to score a double ton. Mother nature with a wide weather front that covered most of East Anglia ensured no-one could steal a march on their rivals, most sides batting first scored thirteen points and everyone collected at least seven points.

The second team were perhaps one of the few sides that were upset not to see the rain. In an extraordinary game at Blunham they lost by nine runs in a game where twenty wickets fell for just one hundred and forty-seven runs in just under fifty overs of cricket. The first half went well, as the Rams put in another fine effort with the ball. Only Houghton (15) and Rodrigo (24) made it into double figures as the home side were dismissed for seventy-eight.  Jay Plaha (1-25) and Darcy Murphy (2-27) doing the initial damage; but Ed Ball’s quartet of wickets (4-8) did the real damage with Miguel Machado (1-7) and Tarun Mouli (1-2) and a run out completing the rout. Keeper Alex James collecting a coveted leg-side stumping in the process. However, with the in-form skipper Dan Heath missing the batting unit failed again. Only Machado (10), Murphy (16) and keeper Alex James (14) made it past single figures as Blunham’s overseas Trevino Alleyne (4-33), Houghton (3-15) and Cottrell (3-4) took the home side to back-to-back wins.

The third team game, reduced to twenty-five overs away at Ickleton was interestingly poised when the rain came again. The home side had posted a challenging one hundred and fifty-nine for six thanks largely to Paul Andrews (58 from 42);  David Jones (49 no off 67) and Charles Garrard (36 off 24). The Rams openers Nuwan Athukorola (2-25) and Ollie Humphreys (1-25) being supported by skipper Jake Ellis (2-42) and Dhrona (1-9). In reply Wes Potschul (16 no) and seasonal debutant Liam Flynn (13 no) had set the innings up nicely at 31 without loss with just under twenty overs to go. The Rams remain top but are still one of three undefeated sides in a competitive league.

The fourth team at home to Newport were probably the side with most to gripe about following the final downpour. The Rams dismissed the side from the Essex border for just seventy-eight. The Rams spearheaded by the young Zane Dennington (2-11) and the slightly older Jon Windsor (2-5 from seven overs) were again impressive with the ball. Two other youngsters Ben Latham (3-9) and Alex Myles (2-8) added to the carnage. Only Hugo Levitt(22 from34), the stubborn George Pretty (21 off 87) and Tony Bunting (12 from 62 balls) made any real contributions. The Rams with Richard Molton and Charlie Borley had already knocked ten off the target when play was abandoned after eight balls of the reply.

Not content with just taking wickets young Alex Myles deserves more praise for volunteering to help both the ground crews at Sawston and Babraham. More help is always welcome and no special skills are necessary, even Bingo and Albert are utilised!

On Sunday Sawston’s most successful skipper Jake Ellis started his campaign to achieve his CCA Junior cricket Grand Slam. Our man already has CCA league titles and promotions, Lower Junior Cup wins, and a Walker Cup triumph and is now targeting the Junior Cup to complete his collection. He led from the front as he picked up four wickets (4-22) before steering the side home with an unbeaten thirty-eight (from just 36 balls). Arya Saeb-Parsy, on his seasonal debut picked up three wickets (3-12). His three-card trick of beamer, beamer, followed by knocking the middle pole out of the ground was very impressive. There was some excellent, if under rewarded, bowling from Arnav Wadekar (1-13), Richard Nicholl (1-19) and Zane Dennington (0-17) as TAC were dismissed for one hundred and six. The Rams moved into the next round with Dom Cameron’s unbeaten twenty-four (not all off the young lady)  as he and Captain Marvel saw the side home by seven wickets and almost five overs to spare. Earlier Daniel Pretorious (14) and Robbie Matthews (13) both made contributions.

The Midweek side remained unbeaten after a five wicket win at home to local rivals Horseheath. Jake Ellis, the former Prince of Horseheath, took two wickets (2-30) with Darcy (1-19) and Dhrona (1-18) as the visitors fuelled by another fifty from the prolific Dan Goldsmith totalled one hundred and thirty-three for four in their allocation. Dan Heath (41 from 35), Darcy (41 no from 26) and Joe Latham (30 off 29) broke the back of the chase. Youngsters Sam Ronco (11 from 10) and Ethan Hayes-Fernandez (8no) ensured the Rams got home with nine balls to spare. Dom  Cameron fresh from his century was our first ball just to prove how fickle the cricketing gods can be.

Our u-15 Premier side remain joint top after an astonishing ten wicket win away at Wenden. Ethan Hayes-Fernandez (42 no ), Ferdie Piper (51 retired) and Vivaan Kilaru (6 no) making light work of the chase. Earlier Arnav Wadekar (2-18) and solitary wickets for Kilaru, Piper, josh Coleman and Oliver Seaborn restricted the home side to one hundred and ten.