SBCC look to end 5-match winless streak! Tibbsy's Weekend preview 17.07
Sawston and Babraham will be looking to end their five-match winless streak, in the league, when they entertain Sudbury at Spicer’s on Saturday. The EAPL new boys, whilst still struggling to get to grips with the longer format are in touching distance of the leaders Gt. Witchingham.
The visitors who uncharacteristically find themselves in the bottom three have shown signs of a return to normality in recent weeks. Indeed, they could, and perhaps should have, beaten leaders Gt. Witchingham last week. In the previous week they had the better of a draw with Cambridge. Not surprisingly all-rounder Darren Batch and skipper Adam Mansfield have played their part in the resurgence, whilst a returning new ball bowler, Jonathan Gallagher, has also made an impact. The Rams will also welcome back one of its old Junior section legends Adam Dellar. They will perhaps hope that Dellar finds some form but in a losing cause!
The home side will be missing Callum Guest but luckily Rishi Patel is available and comes into the side that also features George Darlow. The ‘new Darlow’ appears to have been converted from that hard-hitting maverick batsman into a super-stodger, if his exploits for the Rams and Bedfordshire in the last week are anything to go by! The absence of Guest will mean more overs for front-line spinner Matthew Hague.
The Rams second XI once again break new ground when they travel to Orton Park, visiting the Peterborough based side for the first time ever. They will hope to keep their winning run going following pleasing wins against Orton Park, Southill Park and Eaton Socon in recent weeks. All of whom were trailing the division’s leaders but were capable of catching them, before the defeats.
The Sawston outfit will be looking for a win and hoping that Southill Park can dent Biggleswade’s title aspirations when third meets second, in what is likely to be a spicy local derby. A win for Biggleswade will probably mean that they and Sawston are firmly in the driving seat for promotion, and would leave it open for a battle royal for the title in the final third of the season. The Rams will be looking for another solid start at the top of the order, but surely a fifth century opening stand would be just too incredible. They will be hoping that the middle order can support skipper Ben Benson, opener Josh Jordan and Ant Phillips who are all in the top ten run-scorers in the division. The Rams will be looking to the experienced Sean Jenkins to fill the void left by James Drummond’s decision to leave the Club (for personal reasons). Tom Champness also returns for Olly North and he will be looking to add wickets to the massive one he took against Southill!
The Third XI have yet another week off and so cannot shake off last week’s first defeat of the season. They may supplement the 4th Team who face leaders Stapleford at Babraham. Another tough ask following last week’s game against second-placed Elsworth.