Two games left for Wisbech to secure league status
Wisbech still have a realistic chance of East Anglian Premier League survival despite a heavy defeat at eighth-place Great Witchingham on Saturday.
Town were defeated by 22 runs by the Norfolk side, but relegation rivals Horsford suffered a narrow 13-run defeat at second-place Sawston and Babraham, meaning they lead Wisbech by just four points with two games remaining.
Wisbech’s season now hinges on their final two games, both at home. Seventh-place Saffron Walden are the visitors next Saturday, with fifth-place Witham coming to Cambridgeshire the following weekend. Horsford entertain Great Witchingham and then Saffron Walden.
On Saturday, Wisbech put Witchingham into bat and were looking good when they had the hosts at 32-3, but a fourth-wicket stand of 113 set solid foundations and the home side finished at 240-8 from 50 overs.
Kieran Haynes took 2-26, George Bruce 2-47, Josh Porter 2-50, Gary Freear 1-34 and Jonny Garner 1-54.
In reply, Ryan Clarke and Jamie Gollands put on 34 for the first wicket, scoring 25 and 15 respectively, but a 31 sixth wicket stand between captain James Williams (40) and Jonny Garner was the only other resistance, Ross Gardner also chipping in with 13, as Wisbech were bowled out for 118 in 33.1 overs.
March rounded off their season with defeat by 54 runs at Ramsey in the Cambs & Hunts Premier League Whitings League Division One. The home side elected to bat and registered 248-7 from their 50 overs, Callum Young taking 3-41 from 10 overs, and a wicket apiece for Will Steventon, Samuel Clarke and Rob Sidgwick.
In reply, the visitors were 194 all out from 37.1 overs, opener David Hodson top scoring with 48 from 42 balls, with six fours and two sixes. Toby Nulty hit five fours and two sixes in his 43 from 54 balls, Brandon Phillips hit 22 and Sidgwick 17.
In the CCA League Division One, Chatteris are relegated after a narrow final-day defeat by two wickets at home to Horseheath. After being asked to bat, the home team were 184 all out from 39 overs, before the visitors reached 185-8 from 39.3 overs.
In the same division, Wisbech 2nd finish third, winning by five wickets at Wilbrahams in their final game of the campaign. The home side elected to bat and were 173 all out from 43.5 overs before the visitors scored 174-5 from 25.1 overs.
March 2nd finish bottom of Division Two and are also relegated after a 34-run defeat at home to Cambourne 2nd. After deciding to bat, the visitors were 193 all out from 44.1 overs, Theo Liversedge taking a superb 5-44 from six overs. Charlie Bradshaw took 2-24 from nine and there was a wicket each for Harry Lefevre, Matthew Vail and Rob Tombs.
In reply, March were 159 all out from 31.1 overs, captain James Hilliard opening the batting with 44 from 42 balls, with eight fours. Tombs hit 24, Nigel Wright 23, Charles Pooley 21 and Bradshaw 23.
Our featured match was in Division Three North where Wisbech 3rd secured their status with a five-wicket win at home to St Ives & Warboys 3rd, which means Chatteris 2nd are relegated.
After being put into bat, the visitors scored 179-9 from 40 overs, Mark Buttriss taking 4-41 from eight, Henry Gowler 3-28 from eight, with a wicket each for Louis Avis and Tom Freear.
In reply, opener Nick Osbourne hit 12 fours in his 71 from 90 balls as Wisbech reached 179-5 from 32.2 overs. Colin Freear hit 18, Finlay Murdoch 36 and captain Tom Buck 16.
