CAMBS LEAGUE: March set a high-scoring club record, captaincy change working well for Wisbech

March Town cracked what is believed to be their highest Cambs League score when beating bottom club Weston Colville by 158 runs in Division Two yesterday (July 16).
Sam Freedman (left) of March Town CC.Sam Freedman (left) of March Town CC.
Sam Freedman (left) of March Town CC.

March piled up 332-8 in their 50 overs despite slumping to 64-4 early in the innings.

Aussie Sam Freedman (130no) and Ben Pyle (64) added 125 runs for the fifth wicket to start the recovery.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

March beat the same opponents by nine wickets the week before (July 9), but the second-placed team are still looking over their shoulders at Saffron Walden’s rapid ascent of the table.

Gary Freear struck 85 not out for Wisbech against Eaton Socon.Gary Freear struck 85 not out for Wisbech against Eaton Socon.
Gary Freear struck 85 not out for Wisbech against Eaton Socon.

For the second week running Saffron Walden, who wouldn’t be allowed to go up unless their first team won promotion from Division One. beat Newborough, this time by a decisive 102-run margin.

Newborough, for whom Greg Rowland (4-30) and Dave Stratton (42) did best, are now too close to the relegation zone for comfort.

Ufford Park avenged a defeat from seven days earlier by thrashing Sawston & Babraham by 109 runs away from home.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ross Keymer (62) batted well in Ufford’s 218-9, but skipper Andy Larkin was more pleased with his side’s bowling and fielding as the home side were skittled for 109. Joe Corder (3-14) and Tanvir Hussain (3-16) returned the best figures.

Gary Freear struck 85 not out for Wisbech against Eaton Socon.Gary Freear struck 85 not out for Wisbech against Eaton Socon.
Gary Freear struck 85 not out for Wisbech against Eaton Socon.

In Division One Sam Rippington is finding this captaincy lark easy. Rippington took over following the abrupt resignation of Sam Albutt and has overseen two wins in two games, against leaders Foxton and now the decent Eaton Socon side.

Socon slipped from 76-1 to 162 all out, a collapse started by Brodie Ellis (3-31), and Wisbech stormed to a nine-wicket success with Gary Freear (85no) leading the way.

Freear faced just 95 balls and struck 11 fours and a six. He shared partnerships of 63 with Danny Haynes (27) and 103 with Jack Hargreaves (29no).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Freear and Hargreaves also took two wickets apiece for a side who have now moved up to fifth.

Ramsey remain second after easing past bottom club Blunham by 29 runs in a low-scoring clash.

Ramsey looked vulnerable when dismissed for just 135, but the bowlers responded brilliantly, most notably Taylor West (5-24).

Nassington have slid all the way down to seventh - they were top at the end of June - after three straight defeats.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Leaders Foxton beat them by six wickets yesterday after restricting their hosts to 165-8.

Ketton are still in danger of the drop after losing by 37 runs to fellow strugglers Histon at Pit Lane.

RESULTS

Division One

BLUNHAM lost to RAMSEY by 29 runs

Ramsey 135 (M. Cafferkey 31, D. Jones 22).

Blunham 106 (T. West 5-24, M. Cafferkey 2-27, M. Edwrads 2-32).

KETTON lost to HISTON by 37 runs

Histon 193

Ketton 156

NASSINGTON lost to FOXTON by 6 wkts

Nassington 165-8 (A. Bandaranaike 38, A. McDermott 33).

Foxton 167-4 (A. Hooley 72no, D. Fagan 34no).

WISBECH beat EATON SOCON by 9 wkts

Eaton Socon 162 (J. Carpenter 46, M. Pateman 42, B. Ellis 3-29, J. Hargreaves 2-5, G. Freear 2-31).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Wisbech 166-1 (G. Freear 85no, J. Hargreaves 29no, D. Haynes 27)

Division Two

NEWBOROUGH lost to SAFFRON WALDEN 2nds by 102 runs

Saffron Walden 233-7 (G. Rowland 4-30).

Newborough 131 (D. Stratton 42).

SAWSTON & BABRAHAM lost to UFFORD PARK by 109 runs

Ufford Park 218-9 (R. Keymer 62).

Sawston & Babraham 109 (J. Corder 3-14, T. Hussain 3-16).

WESTON COLVILLE lost to MARCH by 158 runs

March 332-8 (S. Freedman 130no, B. Pyle 65, T. Phillips 45).

Weston Colville 174 (T. Nulty 4-31, A. Palmer 2-34, S. Clarke 2-33, M. Vail 2-46).

Related topics: