It’s a busy schedule...

Its wall-to-wall cricket for the Rams this weekend with six, yes six, games scheduled across the two days.

The first team are at home to perennial title challengers Copdock. The side from Suffolk currently sit third despite being held for draws in a couple of the recent red ball games. Their early season form was astonishing given the number of absentees and injuries that they suffered. One of the EAPL leading run-scorers Sam Athurton, who regularly tops the thousand run mark, has been a big miss due to school duties. The new overseas Mihlali Mpongwana has made an early impact scoring almost four hundred runs (@ 75) and Ollie Burle is another batsman in the leagues’ top ten. Norfolk’s Andy Hanby leads the way with the ball supported by James Bridges, a new recruit from Norwich, and the overseas. A fit again Thomas Harper will add to the spin options. Last year the Rams were ‘done’ by the weather after they bowled out their hosts very cheaply in the red ball contest at Copdock. Copdock had inflicted a rare fifty-over home defeat as Athurton and Burle went big. Burle has just posted a double ton in a MCC two-day game so is in good nick.

The Rams will be expecting more of a challenge than in recent weeks, and the middle order will be hoping for a bit of time in the middle rather than sitting on the sidelines. The Rams are expected to be at full strength on Saturday; giving them a lot of options with bat and ball. Rams skipper Callum Guest sits fourth in the AVL EAPL batting ladder just ahead of the Copdock overseas, Mpongwana, and Ben Claydon is just two wickets behind leader Suranga Rajaguru with the ball.

Elsewhere in the AVL EAPL the unbeaten leaders Horsford travel to Bury whilst second placed Mildenhall will be hoping to avoid a banana skin away at Frinton. Ramsey host Witham with both sides hoping to reverse recent fortunes. AB Wanderers host second bottom Sudbury; and Swardeston will be looking to get back on track when they travel to Downham Stow who are looking for a hat-trick.

The still winless seconds are hampered by availability issues and face the daunting task of visiting third placed Eaton Socon. The hosts have a potent attack spearheaded by the express pace of Ray Jordan, backed up by the experienced campaigners Joe Dawborn and Jon Carpenter. Carpenter will lead the way with the bat and will have the inform, former EAPL player, Ollie Jeffries giving him support. They possess a number of other options with both bat and ball.

The third team host Whittlesford in the very local derby. The visitors have found their feet following last year’s impressive promotion and have won their last four completed games. The visitors Tom Burdett currently leads the race to be leading wicket-taker in the Division; with team mate Krishnan Kumar also in the top ten along with Rams skipper Jake Ellis. The inform Dhrona has just made it into the batting top ten, with Ellis just behind him; Rob Cassells leads the way for Whittlesford. The Rams will want to build on last week’s first victory of the campaign.

The fourth team face a tricky trip to Buntingford where the hosts find themselves one place above the Rams in third; both in touching distance on second placed TAC. Unfortunately the thirds and fourths will probably be impacted by availability issues from above. Skipper Dom Cameron will be hoping that his teenagers including Nathanael Vice and Josh Coleman can carry on with their consistent performances. Vice incredibly in his first season of adult cricket, and probably a year ahead of schedule, sits sixth in the Division 4s rankings with the bat. Adrian Platt returned to the top of the bowling charts in this Division, both in terms of wickets and economy. For the opposition only Liam Neill features in the top ten of the league stats, with eight wickets. 

On Sunday the first team have a very tough tie in the ECB National Club Championship when they visit Brentwood with a place in the National last sixteen at stake. Brentwood currently sit second in the Essex Premier Division with only one defeat, to the leaders, Chelmsford on their record this term. Will Buttleman leads the way for the Essex side in terms of league runs; and Joe Carson is at the vanguard with the ball. The are a couple of other names of interest looking down their stats; Aaron West, who made a century in the last round, also made a ton when knocking out the Rams in 2022; and former Cambridgeshire player Eddie Ballard is in the home sides’ ranks.

The fourth team make their first appearance in the CCA Lower Junior Cup with a home tie against Linton Village. The away club are also in National Village Cup action away to Chorley Wood. Fourth team captain Dom Cameron will need to carefully negotiate the player eligibility rules with so many of his squad being ‘played up’ in recent weeks.

Hopefully everyone survives the Friday night All Stars and Dynamos and Junior coaching with two hundred young cricketers and over thirty-degree heat expected! Keep hydrated and get the sun cream on!