SBCC 1's left frustrated again!

Sawston and Babraham were left frustrated again this week as they narrowly failed to beat Burwell and Exning on Saturday.

They backed up last week’s much better batting display by posting another decent total. The relatively embryonic opening partnership of Matthew Hague and Charlie Lewis again gave them a steady but solid start. Lewis (28) was dismissed first with the score on 75 at the end of the twenty third over falling to Burwell’s hired gun Cameron Steel. Hague then added a further 31 with Ethan Guest. However, when Guest, Hague and Waqas Hussain all fell to Alex Wooliscroft (3-39) 116 for 1 had become 133 for 4 (in 41 overs).

The skipper Dan Heath then joined vice-captain Callum Guest (26 from 24) in a counter attack, adding 33 in seven overs as the Rams looked to accelerate. When Ben Clilverd followed at 188 for 6 the innings was in the balance. However, Tim Moses joined the skipper and again underlined what the home team had been missing during his injury and illness absence. The skipper (41 from 54 balls) departed with the score on 226 for 7 becoming Matthew Jones (2-73) second victim. Moses with 44 not out from 38 balls (three fours and two sixes) and James Vandepeer (15 not out from nine) then ensured Sawston posted a competitive 263 for 7, declaring after 60 overs.

The Rams made early inroads as Mark Smith (1-38) and Vandepeer (1-25) removed Wooliscroft and skipper Tom Griffiths with just 18 on the board. However, Joe Tetley, Burwell’s top run scorer this term then added exactly 100 with the impressive Steel. With the home side’s usually incisive seam attack being blunted as Ed Fletcher helped Steel take the score to 148 for 3 in the 38th it looked very much like game-on. In the continued absence of two left arm spinners the Rams turned to the front- line spin of Callum Guest and the part-time, very part-time, off-spin of Hague. The skipper was rewarded as Hague picked up 5-46, with his opening partner Lewis picking up a couple of stumpings, and the innings lurched to 182 for 7. Jones hung around for almost thirty balls before he fell on 199 giving the home side brief hope as Hussain (1-10) bowling at a lively pace tried to force a win. However, Steel with 97 not out (from 149 balls) and Ghelani held firm in the final five or so overs.

With the in-form Gt. Witchingham again scoring an impressive victory seven wicket win over Frinton they are now top with a ten-point lead from the Rams. In a day of draws Mildenhall were the only other winners of the day, by four wickets over Saffron Walden. Swardeston’s game at Copdock being postponed due to covid.

The Rams 2nd team enjoyed a fantastic day as they defeated fellow challengers Southill Park and gained revenge for their only defeat of the season. This meant back-to-back defeats for the Bedfordshire outfit putting a huge dent in their title / promotion aspirations. The visitors won the toss and given the pitch conditions and the variable forecast they decided to bowl. Sawston’s openers who have enjoyed a successful season to date again gave the side an excellent start. New skipper Ben Benson with another half-century (53 from 60 balls) departed with score on 74 as the visitors opening attack were punished for some wayward bowling. Fellow opener Josh Jordan then joined the skipper back in the hutch with the score on 94 (his 14 coming from 37 balls). Scott Stanford has finally found a bit of form in recent weeks and he hit 49 (from 69) before being caught on the boundary from a border-line full toss. He had added sixty-two with the Ram’s Mr Reliable Ant Phillips. Phillips adding 76 (from 64 balls) before running himself out as the home side went on the search of quick runs. They finished on an over par score of 256 for 7 in their 45 overs. A total boosted by 38 extras (25 wides) and an incredible three lots of four overthrows!

The visitor’s day soon deteriorated further as they lost two quick wickets with only 17 on the board. The Rams opening bowlers Tom Champness (2-35) and Olly North (2-22) both picked up braces as the home side took regular wickets. The game looked well and truly up when Southill’s skipper Shaylen Tomlinson-Patel (30 from 29 balls) was dismissed by James Drummond (1-12) as they struggled to 69 for 5. The home side’s pitch assessment that pace-off and spin was probably the way to go was further vindicated when slow-left armer Jake Raven (4-10) delivered the final blows as the visitors were blown away for just 97. Fellow slow bowler Stanford (1-15) picked up the other wicket with regular wicket-takers Sean Jenkins and Phillips unused. This victory opened up a 61-point gap at the top of the table but third placed Biggleswade are a point further back but with two games in hand.

The was further success as Sawston and Babraham 4th team manged to chase down a sizeable total for the second week in a run. The side contained the usual mix of veteran’s and youth, with the latter very much the priority in team selection. The home side Cam Kerala batted first and posted a challenging 177 for 8 in their 40 overs, in a match played at Hauxton. The Rams shared the wickets as teenager Arya Saeb-Parsy (1-24 from again impressed as he Cameron, Yanamendela, Kerby and Ellis all picked up a scalp. Uber veteran Rob Benson then picked up 2-10 to show the youngsters the way. James Watson led the way with 52 but teenager Bill Rimmell again impressed with 23.

It was perhaps fitting that we had sixty-something Benson (24 not out) and thirteen-year-old Sam Ronco at the crease as the Rams got over the winning line eight-down and with an over to spare. Ronco making light of his age and his lack of size smacking a four and a six off the Cam Kerala opening bowler who was charging in trying to force a victory.

The Rams 2’s Suffolk Cup T20 side also enjoyed a victory on Friday night. The competition ethos is that the team should contain a balance of players from all teams in your club and that youngsters should also be given a chance. The highlights of the win were Olly North’s 3-21and 2-22 from Ollie Ellis. The Rams Third team skipper, and captain on the night, perhaps regretting bowling first team skipper Dan Heath 0-38 from two as Walsham Le Willows posted 158 for 7. The visitors made light of this by chasing down the total in just 14.2 overs Ethan Guest 50 retired not out, Ollie Borley 38 not out and Heath 30 not out.

On Sunday the Rams faced one of the big names in Club cricket when they played Ealing, in the Conference Cup (for the Bertie Joel Cup) at home. Both sides were weakened, Sawston missing a few primarily helping Cambridgeshire into the knock-out stages of the NCCA 50 over competition and Ealing due to National T20 commitments.

Matthew Hague’s rich vein of form continued as he hit 58 (from 56) and picked up 3-33 as the home side ran out winners by 46 runs. Sawston posting 247 for 9 with useful contributions from Ethan Guest (35), Dan Heath (31), Tim Moses (36), Josh Jordan (22) and Ollie Borley (21 no).

In reply Ealing finished 201 all out, with some spirit lower order runs from Oliver Simpson (35), backing up his 3-22, Ally Hillman (33) and Murad Khan (26) after Graydon Orchard (40) had started well at the top of the innings. Tim Moses (3-31) and Will Bailey (2-36) helping MoM Hague who picked up his third award of the weekend! The Rams face Surrey Premier League leaders East Moseley in the next round.