All fives squads in action this weekend

Sawston and Babraham welcome Witham to Spicers on Saturday. The Rams will be keen to maintain their excellent run in what will be the last red-ball game of the season. In a run going back to the 2019 play-offs the home side had ‘the wood on’ their opponents from Essex. However, Witham have hit back of late to win the last two fixtures, albeit both at home. Last season hundreds from Nick Browne and Jamal Richards condemned the Rams to a seven wicket defeat in a run fest; and this year Sam Greer inspired the Essex outfit to a two wicket win.

The Australian leads the way with the ball for the visitors having taken thirty-five league scalps, to be the leading seamer in the EAPL, but noticeably he has not had the benefit of having a fully fit Greg Stephens to share the load. The opening pair of Michael Godwin and Harrison McDonald lead the run scorers with Greer not too far behind. Witham’s ex-Essex pair have played only a handful of games between them, however Browne made his season debut last week with an unbeaten hundred as Witham held out for a disappointing draw at home to Sudbury. The may have Essex Academy player Reuben Thain, younger brother of Noah, in the side and he is no stranger to Spicers having been a regular with the Cambridgeshire County Age group sides. Witham come into the game just one place in the league below the Rams, in sixth

The Rams will be confident following two excellent wins last weekend and they are only expected to make one change with last Sunday’s hero Dan Andrew missing out but Jack Beaumont stepping in.  The Rams will hope that skipper Callum Guest’s imperious form with the bat continues, whilst the middle order will also be hoping for a bit of time in the middle after being on a starvation diet for much of the red ball campaign.

Despite last week’s surprise defeat the AVL EAPL leaders, and still title favourites, Horsford face a tricky Norfolk derby on the Common, at Swardeston. Second placed Mildenhall will be a bit more wary of Saturday’s trip to Ramsey than they might have been a fortnight ago. Third placed Copdock have a Suffolk derby at Sudbury, with the home side finding a bit more form of late. AB Wanderers host Bury where both sides are desperate for a win having just one win between them in the last ten matches. Frinton perhaps travel to Downham with a bit more hope, after last week’s first win, but their hopes may be undermined by Essex’s Metro Bank commitments.

With availability looking tricky the second, thirds and fourths will do well just to get sides out. They also have a tricky set of fixtures. The seconds travel to Newmarket which isn’t a good place to visit if you are short of bowling. The thirds will want to salvage some local pride, after their win last week, but face the short but difficult trip across the river to Whittlesford. The fourths have another home game at the Churchman Ground, but they face an inform Fulbourn side who are looking for a fifth successive win.

The fifth team have headed North on their annual pilgrimage this time heading up to Newcastle.

There was some cheer at last for second team captain Julius Jackson when his side won the Adams Harrison Midweek Cup Final. Unfortunately for the Rams he was playing for the opposition, Linton, as the Rams were bridesmaids for the second year running in the competition.