5th team off to Frinton! 10.07 Tibbsys Weekend Preview
Well, the 5th team are probably on their way now as they make their way to Frinton for what has already become their favourite trip, to very hospitable hosts Frinton. Even the Chairman has left the bar at Sawston!
Dan Heath will be hoping that Frinton continue to be hospitable to us on the pitch. We have three from three against them so far, including that memorable mini-league clinching performance on the east coast last year. Frinton currently languish at the bottom end of the table but cannot be taken lightly as on their day they are still a good side, as was highlighted by that stunning 300+ chase to defeat Cambridge. With Essex on duty on Friday night and in County Championship action, away to Derbyshire on Sunday we can only hope the likes of Browne and Wheater are otherwise engaged. It would also be fair to say that their timed format results and performances have been better than their limited over form. So, we need to be careful.
The squad has been given a huge boost with the return of George Darlow, coupled with the earlier return of Tim Moses, this now means we have most of the squad back at fit that served us so well in 2020, and perhaps is arguably our strongest eleven of the campaign so far. Frinton skipper, Michael Comber, has led the way with the bat this term but more than half of his 306 runs came in that fantastic chase against Cambridge. Comber will be hoping that Josh Rymell and Ben Reece can add runs and that others can find a bit more form. On the bowling front Frinton will be looking to Dulanjala Mendis and Jake Foley to continue their decent form.
Sawston skipper will be hoping that his batting unit continue their own recent good form, although I suspect he will want more runs from his middle order. He will also hope that the extra variety that Darlow brings to the bowling unit coupled with the discovery of that ‘part-time’ offie may enable his side to get over the line this week, or he could spring a surprise by opting to chase, if of course he gets the choice! Heath will also be hoping that Sudbury can repeat last week’s resurgence and hold up the division’s form side and leaders Gt. Witchingham.
Talking of leaders, the Rams second string look to cement their place in the promotion places. The top four in the division meet on Saturday. A defeat for either Bharat Sports or opponents, and title dark horses, Biggleswade will give Sawston some more breathing space at the summit. A win over fourth placed Eaton Socon would create a massive gap between Sawston and the rest of the pack from third downwards. However, they will be wary of the threat from Eaton Socon who has emerged from the pack and have won their last three matches. Their strength appears to be their bowling, especially if you look at last week’s extraordinary win. The home side, however, have the top two batters in the division Ben Benson and Ant Phillips, and have the improving Josh Jordan all ahead of the visitor’s top run scorer Daniel Willings. On the bowling front Socon’s Travis Harrison and the Ram’s Jake Raven are both joint second in the chase to be the leading wicket-taker with 15 each.
With availability stretching the third team squad Jake Ellis will still be confident that he has enough to defeat Barrington II’s. He will be hoping to make the home side’s ageing squad toil in the field. Confidence is likely to be low following Barrington’s big defeat last week. However, you should never expect an easy ride on the Green. With leaders Thriplow having the afternoon off it will be a great chance for Fen Ditton and Sawston both to move back into the promotion places. The Rams are still unbeaten and despite missing Sean Jenkins and local-entrepreneur Sid Siddharth he promotes James Watson and youngsters Joe Latham and Henry Butler. He also welcomes back Sean Ward and Richard Wilson, ‘I don’t believe it’ (sorry!).
All this inevitably means that resources are stretched even more thinly for the 4th’s home match against Elsworth, who are second. The Rams incredible last two performances have seen them move into third in the Division. It would take a performance even more magnificent than the last two for the side to get anything from Saturday’s game, but you never know……….
The PIP’s fund having taken a bit of a beating in the first half of the season is now off life support and is breathing unaided having been topped up by another £500. So many thanks to those generous benefactors and make sure we earn lots of bar vouchers this week. In what has been an extra-ordinary week in English sport it would be remiss of me not to wish the England side well after a superb victory in midweek. So come on England lets have another victory over ………………………………..