Starring role in Cambs Over 50s win for Ajaz, while Peterborough Town and Nassington win top-of-the-table Hunts League games
Ajaz Akhtar played a starring role as Cambridgeshire breezed into the quarter-finals of the ECB Over 50s KO competition.
Akhtar opened the bowling and bagged 3-24 from nine overs as visitors Wiltshire were dismissed for just 108 in a last-16 tie at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.
And the former Cambs Minor Counties skipper, and current county chairman, opened the batting as well, finishing 42 not out as his side raced to victory by nine wickets in 21 overs and two balls. Kevin Gilder from St Ives CC was 36 not out at the close after also taking three wickets.
Cambs now play Wales in a quarter-final at the same venue on Sunday, August 16. Wales beat Cambs in a semi-final two seasons ago.
Akhtar is also a former Peterborough Town captan and Barnack player and those two teams met in a top-of-the-table match in Hunts Division Three on Saturday.
And it was the city side’s third team who prevailed by eight wickets to take a three-point lead over Barnack seconds at the top. That was harsh on Hasnain Tariq who struck 103 of Barnack’s 220-5. An opening stand of 137 between Bhargav Elakoochy (96) and Adil Khan (62) set Town on the way to an impressive win at Thomas Deacon Academy.
In the same division Zulqarnain Khan struck 117 for Werrington seconds in a 149-run win at Little Paxton. Adnan Iqbal (78 not out, 52 balls) and Saad Ashraf (67) also scored well in the city’s side’s mammoth 363-5. Khan also took three wickets in Little Paxton’s reply.
In Division One Deepak Puri’s 87 proved crucial in Adidda’s one-wicket win at Falcon, while Farhan Adil (67) and Haroon Rehman (52) were in form as Peterborough Knights pipped Bharat Sports by three wickets.
Division Two leaders Sawtry & Alconbury Weald were beaten by four wickets by second placed Nassington in the game of the day. Hayden Bream (77) dominated the table-toppers’ 165 all out, but three wickets apiece from Angus Hammond-Chambers, Imran Maqbool and Muhammad Israr set up a victory that was confirmed by Arbas Nawaz (44) and Sohail Hayat (43). Nassington are now just four points off top spot.
Billy Parker of Whittlesey was another unlucky loser. He struck 101 in a 104-run Division Four loss at leaders Buckden seconds. Orton Park thirds maintained second place with an exciting five-run win over Sawtry & Alconbury seconds which featured a hard-hitting 74 not out from Abdul Waris and 58 from Billy Durham.