Rams title defence up and running !

To win a title requires huge amounts of skill and usually a bit on luck, to retain a title you need both of these factors in abundance. Sawston and Babraham had their first slice of good fortune when they were pitted against the seven-times winners, Swardeston, on the opening day of the EAPL. In ordinary circumstances that wouldn’t be considered ‘lucky’ but when the fixture coincides with a wedding involving six first teamers you have to thank the cricketing gods.

The luck didn’t hold sway for long as the home side won the toss and decided to ask the visitors to bat on a deck that, looking at its colour, was likely to offer the bowlers some assistance. In the absence of the old established duo of Hague and Hussain, the Rams opened up with Callum Guest (28) and Noah Thain (40). They settled early nerves as they added 82 in just seventeen overs, with Thain in particular looking very fluent. However, with pace off and the ball sticking a little in the surface the home side got back in the game with two wickets in three balls. When Tim Moses perished three overs later the home sides’s tails were up as Sawston wobbled at 96 for 3.

EAPL debutants Luke Spears (32) and Nathan Buck then dug in. Spears not quite finding the fluency of his ‘comeback’ ton in the pre-season friendly at Saffron Walden. The pair added 74 precious runs before Spears succumbed, however they had set up the innings at 170 for 4 with 12 overs to go. Buck the Northamptonshire bowler then went through the gears as he raced to 81 not out from 96 balls (9 x4 and 3 maximums) showing a good range of shots. He was assisted by some poor fielding as he was dropped four times. He added 106 in the remaining twelve overs with Ben Clilverd who finished 51 not out (from just 34 balls, 5 x 4 and 3 maximums). Clilverd’s innings was full of cracking shots and the usual innovative play and he signed off by finishing the innings with a huge six. This is becoming his party piece, following similar exploits at Walden, however, he went one better by belting both of the last two balls both for six. The Rams finishing on an imposing 275 for 4. On a difficult day for the home bowlers Alex Levison 3-52 was the most successful, although Toby Duncan (0-19) and Joseph Flatt (0-30) bowled tidy spells without luck.

Mark Smith struck his customary early blow when he removed Chapman with his third ball. The other opener Harry Barker (10 from 56 balls) and Alfie Cooper (28) hung around, with the latter playing some excellent shots, despite some terrific, if luckless, bowling from Smith, James Vandepeer (0-9) and Moses (0-20). The introduction of ‘that man’ Cliverd in tandem with George Darlow then reduced the innings to tatters. Cliverd helping himself to 5-24, including a stunning caught and bowled to remove the dangerous Sims. Darlow picking up 2-20 including the Sri Lankan pro Saranga Rajaguru. Guest (1-3) picked up the ninth before Smith (2-30) returned to administer the last rites as the innings closed on 113.

The Rams picking up a stunning 162 run victory, where once again, in brutal contrast to the first innings, their out-fielding and catching was exemplary. Elsewhere there were first day wins for two of last year’s top four as Great Witchingham and Mildenhall also started well. Horsford joined them as first day winners and Sudbury spoilt new boys Witham’s first day in the competition.