De Mel the hero as Wisbech make it three wins on the trot

Sri Lankan all-rounder Shalin Navishka De Mel was the hero for Wisbech as they won a thrilling encounter by 16 runs at early Cambs & Hunts Premier League Division One leaders Burwell & Exning on Saturday.

Opening batsman De Mel hit a quick-fire century and then took four wickets as he made it three wins in his first three games for Wisbech, who are now fourth in the table after losing their opening fixture.

After captain James Williams elected to bat, De Mel put on an opening stand of 44 with Gary Freear before the veteran was out for 18. De Mel also enjoyed a partnership of 100 with Williams before departing with the scores at a healthy 167-3 after 21.4 overs.

The 23-year-old hit 17 fours and four sixes as he made 109 from 64 balls before being caught behind. Williams made 42 from 52 balls.

When Williams fell with the score at 199-4 from 27.3 overs, Jamie Seabrook came in and hit 26, leaving the score at 230-6 from 34.2 overs when he was caught and bowled.

But Williams’ side lost the next four wickets for just 10 balls and ended up 240 all out from 38.2 overs.

In reply, Wisbech took early wickets and had the leaders struggling at 62-4 from 18.3 overs, De Mel clean bowling two of his victims.

However, captain and wicket keeper Paul Summerskill gave his side hope with 107 from 121 balls, a fifth wicket stand of 69 and a ninth wicket partnership of 51 meaning the game was going to the wire.

The home side needed 17 to win from the last eight balls when Summerskill was finally out, caught by Kieran Haynes off the bowling of that man De Mel, who also claimed a run out.

The Sri Lankan finished with figures of 4-28 off 7.4 overs, Freear took 3-47 from 10 and there was a wicket each for Haynes and Jonny Garner.

In our other featured match, Chatteris lost by 72 runs at home to Horsheath in CCA Senior 2. After being asked to bat, the visitors quickly found themselves at 25-2, with early wickets for James Wood and Anthony Palmer.

However, a 182-run third wicket stand knocked the stuffing out of the home side and, although wickets fell cheaply after that, Horsheath made a commanding 276-9 from their 45 overs.

Ben Hollis took 3-31 from five, Wood 3-39 from nine, Steve Bishop 2-26 from six and Palmer 1-42 from nine.

Chatteris made a decent start to their reply with openers Bishop and Anthony Bamford making 27 and 14 respectively, but the home batsmen could not build on solid starts with Palmer going for 20, Jamie Long for 14 and Robbie Bradshaw for 22 as they found themselves at 87-7.

However, spirited knocks from tailenders Billy Munns with 56 and Shimron Thomas with 33 added some respectability to the scoreline without ever putting the end result in doubt. Munns’ knock came off 50 balls with seven fours and a six, while Thomas faced 27 deliveries and hit six fours. Chatteris were 204 all out from 36.2 overs.

In the same division, Wisbech 2nd lost by 111 runs at home to Milton. After electing to bat, the visitors made an impressive 287-5 from their 45 overs, Jack Woollard taking 3-44 from nine and Henry Gowler 1-48 off nine.

In reply, Wisbech were 176 all out from 31.5 overs, despite the heroic efforts of Woollard, who hit 93 from 59 balls, with 14 fours and three sixes. Openers Dom Stannard and Matthew Gill scored 15 and 25 respectively, Tom Freear 11, and wicket keeper Archie Grange-Hall 18.

March made it two wins from two and lead the fledgling Cambs & Hunts Premier League Division Three table after beating hosts Huntingdon by three wickets.

The home side made 228 all out from 44.5 overs after electing to bat, 20-year-old Kian Pooley the pick of the bowlers with 4-47 from 8.5 overs, Sam Robinson taking 3-41 from nine, Samuel Clarke 2-52 from nine and Callum Young 1-44 off nine.

Openers David Hodgson, 44, and wicket keeper Mark Esthall, 17, put on 71 for the first wicket, and there were also decent knocks from Sam Robinson, 21, Toby Nulty, 38, and Brandon Phillips, 13.

However, the star was Samuel Clarke, hitting an unbeaten 44 from just 32 balls, with five fours and two sixes as he saw his side home to victory at 229-7, with 3.3 overs to spare.

In CCA Junior Four North, March 2nd made short work of visiting Burwell & Exning 4th with a nine-wicket home win. After deciding to bat, the visitors were dismissed for 141 from 33.3 overs, 16-year-old Theo Liversedge taking 4-31 and Min Patel 3-22.

In reply, March lost one man before an excellent second wicket partnership of 111 between Adam Conyard, 96 not out, and Tom Jackson, 22 not out, saw them win in 22.4 overs.

In the same division, Wisbech 3rd won by four wickets at Wilburton 2nd. The home side decided to bat and were 139 all out from 23.5 overs, Colin Freear taking 4-23 from 7.5 overs, Matt Duff 3-29 off six, and Mark Buttriss and Alfie Jagger taking a wicket each.

Wisbech’s reply did not start well and they found themselves at 27-3, when Buttriss came to the crease. It was soon 28-4, but alongside Lee Hoenderkamp, 17 not out, Buttriss hit an undefeated 87 from just 52 balls to see the visitors home at 141-4 from 26 overs. Buttriss hit 17 fours and two sixes.

There was also victory for Wimblington, who lead Four North after two games, beating visitors Chippenham 2nd by 25 runs. After being put into bat, the home side made 181-6 from 40 overs.

Star of the show was wicket keeper Mark Butler with a steady unbeaten 62 from 109 balls, which included eight fours. He was backed up by Steve Coe with 39, Leon Walker with 11 and captain Jason Bullman with an unbeaten 28.

In reply, the visitors were dismissed with the last ball of the day, 156 all out from 40 overs. Bullman took 4-33 from eight, Francesca Plitsch 2-29 from eight, Coe 2-42 from eight, and there was a wicket each for Walker and Kyle Butler.

Wisbech 4th conceded their game at Cam Kerala 4th in Five North, and Chatteris 2nd were beaten by 185 runs at Ramsey 3rd.

After electing to bat, the home side made a big 287-7 from their 40 overs, Oliver Tilbrook taking 2-53 from eight, Peter Gunn 2-57 from six, and Andrew Wool and Jago Pearson a wicket apiece. In reply, Chatteris were all out for 102 from 24.1 overs, opener Gunn hitting 25, Wool 21, captain Tilbrook 19, wicket keeper Sam Matthews 16 and Pearson 14 not out.

This Saturday, Wisbech entertain Eaton Socon and March are at home to LGR, both matches starting at noon.

All other games begin at 1pm, with Chatteris at Milton, Wisbech 2nd at Wilbrahams, Wimblington at Sutton, Wisbech 3rd at home to Chippenham 2nd, and Chatteris 2nd at home to Over and Willingham 2nd.