Ketton are getting what they pay for

The most expensively-assembled team in local cricket have justified their pre-season tag as title favourites in some style. Their 10-wicket demolition of Blunham yesterday (August 23) was their 13th in 19 matches.

The value of their professionals was again apparent as every wicket taken and every run scored arrived courtesy of paid players. Ajaz Akhtar led the bowling domination with 5-31 from 16 overs as Blunham were despatched for 131. Rob Woolley (3-31) and Devon Endersby (2-18) also chipped in.

Woolley (71no) and Endersby (47no) scored all the runs as Ketton raced home. Promotion to Division One has been achieved, but Saffron Walden seconds just about kept the title race alive for another seven days by defeating Khalsa by six wickets. The city side were shot out for 119 with no batsman reaching 20.

Yaxley are almost down after falling 64 points from safety with a heavy 141-run defeat at Burwell seconds who piled up 302-2. That was good news for Newborough who beat St Ives by two wickets despite some late-match drama.

Newborough required one to win with six wickets in hand and promptly lost four of them before sneaking home as young Tom McCarthy bagged a hat-trick.

In Division One Ramsey took a firm grip of the title race as they saw off a Kasim Ikhlaq inspired Nassington by 31 runs as second-placed Wisbech were getting thrashed at Foxton by eight wickets.

David Clarke (63) top scored in Ramsey’s 216-7, but there were a few jitters while Ikhlaq was blasting his way to 100 for Nassington. Jon Cade (3-25) and Michael Cafferkey (3-43) did best with the ball after skipper Taylor West had run Ikhlaq out.

Reigning champions Wisbech had lower order man Matt Esser (43no) to thank for their total of 147. They had been 76-7, but the final score still proved inadequate for the the Fenmen who now drop to third place.

Ramsey are 23 points clear of second-placed Sawston with just three matches to go.

Steve Seymour cracked an unbeaten 80 as March beat lowly Cambridge NCI by six wickets.

Scores

Division One

FOXTON beat WISBECH by 8 wkts

Wisbech 147 (M. Esser 43no, H. Johnson 21, D. Cousins 4-32, J. Douglas 4-60).

Foxton 149-2 (C. Sanderson 48, C. Palmer 46no).

RAMSEY beat NASSINGTON by 31 runs

Ramsey 216-7 (D. Clarke 63, T. West 33, S. Cafferkey 28).

Nassington 185 (K. Ikhlaq 100, J. Cade 3-25, M. Cafferkey 3-43)

CAMBRIDGE NCI lost to MARCH by 6 wkts

Cambridge NCI 165-7

March 166-4 (S. Seymour 80no, J. Harradine 30no, B. Pyle 25).

Division Two

SAFFRON WALDEN 2nds beat KHALSA by 6 wkts

Khalsa 119 (N. Odedra 5-32)

Saffron Walden 120-4 (F. Javed 2-28, S. Mahmood 2-30).

BURWELL 2nds beat YAXLEY by 141 runs

Burwell 302-2.

Yaxley 161

KETTON beat BLUNHAM by 10 wkts

Blunhan 131 (A. Akhtar 5-31, R. Woolley 3-31, D. Endersby 47no)

Ketton 134-0 (R. Woolley 71no, D. Endersby 47no).

NEWBOROUGH beat ST IVES by 2 wkts

St Ives 114 (R. Grieller 49, A. Greenwood 4-28, K. Corder 2-4).

Newborough 118-8 (G. Rowland 32, A. Rowland 21).