Tibbsy's Weekend Preview!

SBCC 1st XI make their EAPL home debut when they entertain Bury St. Edmunds on Saturday. Although the Rams will be confident following two excellent away wins they know that this weekend they will face their stiffest challenge so far.

Bury have also started well scoring 300+ in their first game against Copdock and winning comfortably under DLS. Last week they narrowly failed to beat Southern Section favourites Sudbury, who won with just three balls to spare with nine wickets down. Bury scored 282 which together with the 316 from week 1 tends to suggest that batting is their strongest suit. Justin Broad has already one ton and a forty to his name, and there have been half centuries from Josh Cantrell, Alistair Allchin, and Alfie Marston. Allchin joins Ben Seabrook and skipper Sean Park as well- known players that have performed for local sides like Burwell and Cambridge.

Availability remains good and Dan names an almost unchanged side with Charlie Lewis returning for the holiday absentee AP Stafford.

The 2nds travel to Barrington to renew local rivalries however it will be fair to say that Barrington and the local fire brigade may not as keen to see Kane Munday repeat his double ton of 2017. This match sees two of the unbeaten sides of Group D meet. Sawston almost gaining a full quota of 40 points in their demolition of Horseheath last week.

Nick Griggs with almost a full squad to chose from brings in Benji Benson for Mervyn Shaji to strengthen the batting! There will be club fines for anyone dismissed playing a back-foot shot! Barrington were, perhaps, surprise winners last week against Newport who were bundled out for a paltry 78, as the ‘ever-grey’ Michael ‘Shirley’ Douglas, the Bryant brothers and Sills all picked up braces. In reply Barrington lost the dangerous Scott Douglas early but Sam Sabey and Paul Andrews saw them home by 6 wickets.

Jake Ellis will be hoping that this week’s strength in depth can be replicated for the visit of Lt Shelford 1st XI at Babraham. Both teams are currently unbeaten. Mark Harrod (67) supplied early runs and number seven Richard Watson 73 not out as they totalled 266 against Harlton, who themselves replied with a creditable 197. In order to get as many playing as possible Jake rings the changes as Alex Day, Sumit Siddharth, Scott Barker, Alex Long, and Nelson come into the side joined by Mervin Shaji released from second team duties.