1st Team weekend reports - Tibbsy

Mildenhall CC v Sawston & Babraham CC

Sawston and Babraham CC (SBCC) ventured to new ground when they travelled to Mildenhall for the first of two friendlies before next week’s start to the league season.

Excellent opening spells from James Vandepeer (2-21)  and Tim Moses saw the early removal of Frame and Foley as Mildenhall had to dig in at 27 for 2. However, with opener Dom Palmer’s (60) patient and unruffled knock and some aggressive ball-striking from Jack Potticary (68 from just 65 balls) the home side wrestled back control. These two were fortunate to survive a couple of chances, one much tougher than the other, as they added 116 for the third wicket. Things were looking ominous for the visitors at 142 for 2 at the end of the 28th over, a run a ball from there would have meant a 270-run chase. That would have been far too many on a good but used pitch that occasionally did something. The introduction of spinners Callum Guest and George Darlow in tandem made a dramatic impact despite Darlow going for 24 in one over. Skipper Dan Heath backed this duo and was rewarded as Mildenhall slipped to 174-8. Guest picked up 3-19 from 10 exceptional overs with Darlow supporting him with 2-54. An excellent ninth wicket partnership between Blackledge (37 no) and Loveday (17) enabled the home side to post 222. This was assessed, by the locals, to be 20-30 over par on today’s wicket.

The SBCC reply stuttered and then rocked as they found themselves 37-5 as Blackledge (3-4) this time starred with the ball getting excellent support from fellow quicks Rash (1-11), Loveday (1-14) and Cruickshank (1-20) backed up by some excellent catching and out-fielding. Opener Charlie Lewis dug in and without finding any real timing offered some stubborn and fighting resistance. He became the sixth victim when battling innings of thirty was ended with the score on 74. Tim Moses counter-attacked as his strike rate raced to a match best 180+ however it proved to be just a cameo as he succumbed for 27 as SBCC struggled to 93-9. James Vandepeer, in at 10, almost matched Moses strike-rate as he an Oliver Borley added a useful 42 runs to the total.

After the record-breaking season of 2019 today underlined the huge step up in class that that the side face, and underlined the fact that you need to take your chances when they are presented. The batting line up need to find some form and confidence and the lack of their Australian talisman Matthew Hague at the top of the order leaves a big gap. Skipper Dan Heath has acted quickly to bolster the batting line up with the signing of Michael Cafferkey from Ramsey, who impressed against them last year.

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Sawston and Babraham CC v Cambridge CC

SBCC undone by Cambridge's 12th man!

On Sunday the 1st XI held their final friendly of ‘pre-season’ and despite missing a few players were pleased to welcome Michael Cafferkey for his debut and Mark Smith for his seasonal debut. After some early morning rain, SBCC won the toss and decided to bat. No doubt influenced by the home sides lack of runs so far this season. When Cafferkey’s (23) promising cameo was ended at 54-4 the day was starting to resemble ‘ground-hog day’. However, Scott Stanford (28) and Callum Guest (36) added 48 for the fifth wicket before he and Tim Moses with a powerfully struck 31 added a further 43. When Moses departed on 149 for 7 at the end of the 37th, the total was looking well under bar on another fantastic deck. The innings was rescued by skipper Dan Heath with some clean striking and audacious running between the wickets as he added 107 with a combination of Ben Clilverd (37) and Oliver Borley (3 no). Heath (56) was dismissed on the last ball of the innings with 256 on the board. Rajan Singh (3-46) was the most successful bowler backed up by a brace from Zaman Akhter and Peter Richer.

The Cambridge innings started in a less chaotic fashion despite the early loss of Nick Taylor as they reached 55 for 2, largely surviving good initial bursts from Moses and Smith. Former captain Johnny Atkinson (47) used his experience and he at first added 131 as the ‘junior’ partner with Zaheer Hussain (71) before hitting the accelerator to push his side over the 200 mark. Any thoughts of a potential final twist and a little wobble were soon removed as the calm and assured Peter Richer eased himself to 29 not out and Cambridge to a four-wicket victory in 49 overs. SBCC were left to rue the 68 extras, and look back at a ‘pre-season’ that has brought four defeats, but where I am hopeful that they have learned a lot and now need to nit the good aspects for all the previous games into a complete performance in time for our league debut next week.

Tibbsy