CAMBS LEAGUE: Nassington and March hit the top, Ketton and Ufford Park are skittled

Nassington beat previous leaders Saffron Walden by a convincing seven wickets at Fotheringay Road, while March also pipped the team that started the day in first place, St Ives, by three wickets at Burrowmoor Road.

Nassington’s form has surprised many, especially as Minor Counties batsman Dan Robinson had been out of action with a football injury all summer. but they dismantled the favourites for promotion yesterday to confirm their own status as genuine title contenders.

Walden were rushed out for 108 in just 34 overs thanks to an early burst of 2-22 from paceman Tom Norman and crafty, slower bowling from 16-year-old Harrison Craig (3-16) and Dan Bandaranaike (3-37).

Skipper Alex Laud (58no) struck 10 boundaries as the home side raced to victory in just 25 overs. Aussie Adam McDermott was unbeaten on 24 at the close of play.

March had to work much harder for their win. On a soggy pitch, and after a delayed start, they restricted St Ives to 90 all out, 53 of which came from number seven Faisal Khan.

But conditions were still tough when a March side, determined to regain their Division One place at the first attempt, came out to bat.

Nick Kumpukkal (5-21) prompted a slump from 28-1 to 46-6 before skipper Tyler Phillips (24no) guided his side home.

Phillips (3-17) also bowled well after Aussie Sam Freedman had taken 3-6 from nine overs at the start of the game.

Ramsey are back up to second in a hugely-competitive top flight - Walden slipped from first to fifth following their defeat - after easing past Ketton by five wickets at Pit Lane.

Ketton struggled from the start and had to battle their way to 114 all out. Matt Milner’s 25 not out was their best individual effort.

Michael Cafferkey (35) and Taylor West (30) dominated the Ramsey reply. West also picked up two cheap wickets.

Wisbech ended their three-game losing streak by bashing bottom club Blunham by 103 runs at Harecroft Road.

Half centuries from Josh Bowers (66) and Gary Freear (51) pushed Wisbech up to 233-9 in their 50 overs against a team who have yet to win this season. Both batsmen scored at exactly a run a ball with Bowers striking two sixes and six fours and Freear hitting one six and six fours.

Blunham were dismissed for 130 in reply with Jamie Gollands (3-31) and Silas Mutubaki (3-35) the most successful bowlers.

In Division Two Ufford were skittled for 99 to complete a 78-run reverse at Kimbolton, but Newborough saw off Huntingdon by three wickets thanks mainly to Vamshi Parvathaneni (4-24), Kyren Ellary (3-25) and in-form Dave Stratton (42).

RESULTS:

Division One

KETTON lost to RAMSEY by 5 wkts

Ketton 114 (M. Milner 25no, J. Cade 3-22, T. West 2-23, D. Jones 2-25).

Ramsey 115-5 (M. Cafferkey 35, T. West 30).

NASSINGTON beat SAFFRON WALDEN by 7 wkts

Saffron Walden 108 (J. Brace 37, J. Barrs 26no, H. Craig 3-6, D. Bandaranaike 3-37, T. Norman 2-22).

Nassington 112-3 (A. Laud 58no, A. McDermott 24no, J. Sneath 3-32).

WISBECH beat BLUNHAM by 103 runs

Wisbech 233-9 (J. Bowers 66, G. Freear 51, S. Rippington 21, M. Pickard 3-45).

Blunham 130 (A. White 26, J. Gollands 3-31, S. Mutubaki 3-35, H. Drew 2-22).

Division Two

KIMBOLTON beat UFFORD PARK by 78 runs

Kimbolton 177-8 (R. Claessen 50, M. Watkinson 34, S. Dahiya 2-17, A. Shazad 2-23)

Ufford Park 99 (A. Shazad 24no, L. Ingram 4-23).

MARCH beat ST IVES by 3 wkts

St Ives 90 (F. Khaliq 53, S. Freedman 3-6, T. Phillips 3-19, A. Palmer 2-12).

March 91-7 (T. Phillips 24no, N. Kumpukkal 5-21).

NEWBOROUGH beat HUNTINGDON by 3 wkts

Huntingdon 121 (N. Khan 22, F. Javed 21, V. Parvathaneni 4-24, K. Ellery 3-25, A. Greenwood 2-24).

Newborough 124-7 (D. Stratton 42, A. Rowland 36no, N. Khan 2-37).