Wisbech win boosts their survival hopes
Wisbech gave their survival hopes a huge boost as they beat title challengers Sawston and Babraham by four wickets in a rain-reduced fixture yesterday.
James Williams’ men moved within a point of second-from-bottom Horsford, who lost at home to leaders Swardeston, with three games left to play.
They now travel for their final away game of the season at ninth place Great Witchingham this Saturday before home games against eighth place Saffron Walden and fifth place Witham, while Horsford are at second place Sawston and Babraham this Saturday before home games against Great Witchingham and Saffron Walden.
At the weekend, visitors Sawston elected to bat and were 208 all out from 49.5 overs, Ryan Clark pick of the bowlers with 3-41 from 10. Josh Porter took 2-29, Jonny Garner 2-38, Gary Freear 1-27 and George Bruce 1-35.
Wisbech, given a revised target of 97 from 15 overs after the rain came down, reached 100-6 with four balls to spare. Openers Danny Hayes and Clark scored 25 and 10 respectively, wicket keeper Josh Bowers 15, Freear 18 not out, and captain Williams 10.
In the Cambs & Hunts Senior League Whitings League Division One, March lost by six wickets at home to Blunham. After electing to bat, March were all out for 133 off 33.3 overs, Brandon Phillips with 43 and captain Samuel Clarke with 33 putting on 81 for the fourth wicket, with Stuart Mills scoring 10. In reply, the visitors raced to 137-4 from 17.1 overs, Clarke taking 4-59 from nine overs.
In the CCA Senior League Division One, Chatteris’ game with visiting Fulbourn Institute was abandoned due to rain with the home side in the ascendancy. Batting first, Chatteris were 107 all out in 37 overs, but the visitors had been reduced to 37-5 from 15 overs when the match was called off. Chatteris are eight points clear of the drop zone before their final game of the season at home to Horseheath, themselves only 11 points clear.
In the same division, Wisbech 2nd won by 33 runs at Longstanton Grasshopers. After deciding to bat, Wisbech scored 170-7 from a rain-reduced 30 overs, wicket keeper and opener Dom Stannard scoring 42, Sam Albutt 17, Matthew Gill 48 and Tom Buck 24.
In reply, Longstanton were bowled out for 137 from 27.1 overs, Chris Clark taking 3-28, Brodie Ellis 2-4, Jack Woollard 2-20, Ali Anthony 2-23 and Joe Dunning 1-23.
March 2nd conceded their game at Buntingford in Division Two and are now relegated.
In Division Three North, Chatteris 2nd lost by three wickets at Over and Willingham. After deciding to bat, the visitors were 163 all out from 32 overs, opener Oli Bailey scoring 46, Stuart Porter 28, Liam Boxall 54 and Peter Gunn 13.
Over and Willingham then reached 165 from 37.3 overs, Gianashan Sathees taking 2-29, Harley Edmonds 2-33, with a wicket each for Oliver Tilbrook and Jago Pearson.
In the same division, the game between Wisbech 3rd and Burwell and Exning 2nd was abandoned. After being put into bat, Wisbech fell to 81 all out from 23.1 overs, only wicket keeper Josh Harper with 20 and Louis Avis with 18 making double figures. The visitors were 31-0 from 3.3 overs when the game was abandoned.
Wisbech are now 14 points from safety before their final match of the season, at home to St Ives and Warboys 3rd on Saturday.
