Evergreen Freear hits a ton as Wisbech cruise to six-wicket win
Wisbech Town boosted their Cambs & Hunts Premier League Division One play-off chances with a six-wicket win at struggling Saffron Walden on Saturday, the evergreen Gary Freear smashing an unbeaten century.
The Essex side won the toss and elected to bat, scoring a decent 244 all out from 49.1 overs. Jonny Garner was the pick of the bowlers with 5-55 from nine overs, George Gowler took an economical 3-24 from 9.1 and Kieran Haynes 1-36 from eight.
In reply, Wisbech eased to 245-4 from 42.1 overs, Freear’s 102 coming from 115 balls, with 12 fours and one six. He was backed up by Ryan Clark, who scored 76 from 87 balls, including 11 fours. Jack Woollard scored 22.
Over in Division Two, March Town stay second from bottom with just three wins from 16 matches after an 86-run defeat at St Ives & Warboys.
After winning the toss and deciding to bat first, the home side made a modest 201-9 from their 50 overs, Kian Pooley taking 4-39 from seven, Josh Fisher 3-37 from 10 and a wicket each for Callum Young and Sam Clark.
However, March’s reply never really got going, with little support for Fisher who scored 35 from 62 balls. Clarke managed 15 and down the order Stuart Mills hit five fours in his 27 from 21 balls, but the visitors were dismissed for 115 from 34.3 overs.
An eight-wicket home defeat against Thriplow leaves Wisbech 2nd just seven points clear of the CCA Senior One relegation zone with two games remaining.
After being asked to bat, Wisbech made 197-7 from 45 overs, Chris Clark the star with 83 from 99 balls, including 14 fours and a six. Captain Dom Stannard opened the innings and scored 27, Pieter Jacobs scored 16, Brodie Ellis 33 not out and Oliver Overland an undefeated 11.
However, the home attack had no answers to the batting of Thriplow opener Toby Weston, who raced to 135 from 101 balls, with 20 fours and three sixes, before Stannard caught him off the bowling of Overland. By this stage, the visitors were 194-2 and ended 201-2 from 30.4 overs.
Chatteris enjoyed a 108-run home win over Linton Village in Senior Two. After being put into bat, the home side scored 231-5 from 45 overs before bowling out their visitors for 123 from 35.1 overs.
Wisbech Town 3rd remain bottom of Junior Three North with just one win this season after a nine wicket defeat at leaders Haddenham.
The visitors were put into bat and dismissed for 115 from 36.1 overs, wicket keeper Tom Freear top scoring with his quickfire 34 from 22 balls, including five fours and two sixes. Opener Colin Freear scored 12, Archie Grange-Hall 22 and Henry Plume 19. The home side then raced to 116-1 from 20 overs.
Wimblington’s Junior Four North promotion hopes were delivered a blow when they lost by five wickets at home to Fordham. The home side made 179-7 from their 40 overs, and their opponents hit off the necessary runs for the loss of five wickets.
Chatteris 2nd stay second bottom after losing by 99 runs at Chippenham 2nd. After being asked to bat, the home side scored 227-6 from 40 overs, Andrew Wool taking 2-41 from eight and Oliver Tilbrook, Luke Arnold and Robbie Bradshaw getting a wicket each.
The visitors then scored 128 all out from 37.1 overs, Oli Bailey hitting 16, captain Tilbrook 18, Arnold 21, Liutauras Puckorius 12, Andrew Wool 10 and Noah Wool 10 not out.
In Junior Five North, March Town 3rd stay rock bottom after conceding their game at Longstanton Grasshoppers 2nd.
