CAMBS LEAGUE: Back-to-back centuries for captain Cafferkey, Aussies in awesome form

Cafferkey cracked 104 of his side’s 185 all out at Eaton Socon yesterday (August 13) to set up a 60-run win against a team who have collapsed in the second-half of the season.

Brother Elliot Cafferkey was Ramsey’s next highest scorer with 21 before bowlers Mark Edwards (3-14), Jonathan Cade (3-37) and Kasim Ikhlaq (2-16) combined to skittle Socon for just 125.

Cafferkey has now gone past 700 runs for the Division One season, the third-best tally in the league after Eaton Socon skipper Jonny Carpenter (895) and Godmanchester opener Tariq Aziz (848).

The win lifted Ramsey into second place, but they still have 28 points to make up in four matches on leaders Foxton who won again yesterday.

Wisbech dropped a place to third even though they recorded a sixth straight win. The Fenmen cruised home against Waresley by seven wickets, but picked up fewer total points than the Rams.

The Fenman looked likely to be chasing a huge target at Harecroft Road when Waresley reached 135-0, but the visitors crumbled to 209-9 in the face of accurate spin bowling from Gary Freear (3-20).

In-form Freear made ‘just’ 33 in the Wisbech reply and was for once over-shadowed by Aussie Jack Hargreaves (80no) and Cambs all-rounder James Williams (54no). They put on an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 123 after Danny Haynes (36) had helped provide a solid base.

One-time leaders Nassington have emerged from a mini mid-season slump to win three matches in a row and climb back up to fourth. They were pleased to complete a league ‘double’ over Godmanchester with a five-wicket win at Fotheringay Road.

Goddy recovered from the shock of losing both openers for ducks and then falling to 9-3 to post a respectable 229, but a steady batting effort led by opener Harrison Craig (47) enabled the home side to win with plenty in hand. Tom Norman (4-36 & 37) enjoyed a strong all-round day.

Ketton, who had been in good form, were suprisingly beaten by 83 runs at bottom club Blunham after letting their hosts pile up 286-9. Ulrich Van Duyker (5-46 & 50no) was the only Lion to roar.

In Division Two there were again contrasting fortunes for March Town and Newborough.

March look set for promotion and an instant return to the top flight after seeing off Warboys by 28 runs at Burrowmoor Road.

Aussie import Sam Freedman (59) top scored in the home side’s 229-9 and then bagged 3-54 in Warboys’ 201 all out. James Harradine (4-23) was however the pick of the bowlers.

But Newborough have four games to save themselves from a return to Hunts League cricket after a chastening nine-wicket defeat at Kimbolton.

It would have been much worse but for Vamshi Parvathaneni who smacked 97 of Newborough’s inadequate 165 all out. Newborough are 28 points from safety.

Tas Ahmed batted well for 67 of Ufford Park’s 265 at third placed Saffron Walden seconds, a team total that was good enough for an 80-run win.

RESULTS

Division One

BLUNHAM beat KETTON by 83 runs

Blunham 286-9 (U. Van Duyker 5-46, W. Compton 2-42).

Ketton 203-7 (U. Van Duyker 50no).

EATON SOCON lost to RAMSEY by 60 runs

Ramsey 185 (M. Cafferkey 104, E. Cafferkey 21, A. Newman 3-26).

Eaton Socon 125 (M. Kirkham 27, M. Edwards 3-14, J. Cade 3-37, K. Ikhlaq 2-16).

NASSINGTON beat GODMANCHESTER by 5 wkts

Godmanchester 229 (J. Phlllips 86, P. Swannell 65, M. Askew 50, T. Norman 4-36, H. Bashir 3-34, C. Craig 2-21).

Nassington 230-5 (H. Craig 47, A. Bandaranaike 41, T. Norman 37, D. Bandaranaike 23no, J. Phliips 2-59).

WISBECH beat WARESLEY by 7 wkts

Waresley 209-9 (J. Richards 64, N. Taylor 59, G. Freear 3-20, S. Rippington 2-31).

Wisbech 212-3 (J. Hargreaves 80no, J. Williams 54no, D. Haynes 36, G. Freear 33).

Division Two

KIMBOLTON beat NEWBOROUGH by 9 wkts

Newborough 165 (V. Parvathaneni 98, R. Claasen 4-15)

Kimbolton 167-1 (T. Biddle 54).

SAFFRON WALDEN 2nds lost to UFFORD PARK by 85 runs

Ufford Park 265 (T. Ahmed 67)

Saffron Walden 180

WARBOYS lost to MARCH by 28 runs

March 229-9 (S. Freedman 59, B. Pyle 38, T. Phillips 30, B. Duncan 3-30).

Warboys 201 (M. Cooksey 71, J. England 31no, J. Harradine 4-23, S. Freedman 3-54).