Clilverd and Guest steer the Rams home!

Sawston and Babraham maintained their unbeaten start to the season when they recorded a four wicket win at home to local rivals Saffron Walden. The win means the reigning EAPL champions are keeping pace with Mildenhall as the only two unbeaten sides in EAPL 2022.

This was the Rams first home start of the season. Thanks to the hard work of Sawston Parish Council and in particular their new groundsman Will Cook Spicers looked immaculate and the playing surface looked like a belter. The match was delayed for an hour to allow for Saffron Walden’s players to arrive who had been stuck in local traffic and the visitors obviously agreed and had no hesitation in deciding to bat on winning the toss. They started well with stand-in opener Jack Ormsby (27) joining Nick Taylor (16). They had progressed to 49 for no wicket after thirteen overs, when two moments of confusion led to two run-outs within six balls. The first one down to an excellent direct hit by James Vandepeer.

Joshua Down (64, from 87 balls) then played a sensible innings, packed with some excellent drives and cuts, as he added 102 runs with Ashley Cox (19) and Tom Bonham (13). The home spinners George Darlow (2-33) and Callum Guest (1-37) pulled the Rams back into contention as they removed Cox, Bonham and then Down, with the score on 171-5 (in the 42nd).

Although the wicket offered little for the bowlers the bowling unit, whilst not at their very best, still managed to keep the total within control. When skipper Ben Harris (12) and overseas Jack Carroll (10) perished, with Tim Moses (2-48) and Clilverd (1-45) picking up the wickets, Carroll being snared by a fantastic catch by Sawston keeper Dan Heath, the innings was losing momentum. Jack Sneath (25 no from 14 balls) however ensured that the total reached a respectable 224 for 8. Despite the Rams, unusual, generosity with four no balls (with free hits) and twenty-one wides most observers reckoned that the target was about thirty runs short.

The home side’s reply started badly as Ben Benson went first ball to be followed fairly quickly by Luke Spears ( and Moses (12). With an Ali Hancock (2-45) brace and Matthew Jones (2-32) making the breakthroughs. New opener Callum Guest (81 from 88 balls, 10 fours) and Ben Clilverd (104 from 143 balls, 12 x 4) then steadied the ship before taking the game away from the Crocus with a stunning 189 run match winning partnership. Clilverd writing himself into the Rams Hall of Fame by becoming the first Ram to score an EAPL ton at home.

They both perished just before the winning line, and skipper Heath went first ball, before Alex Stafford (4 no) and Darlow (2 no) saw the Rams home. Carrol picked up a useful 2-48 for the visitors. The early loss of wickets and subsequent recovery again highlighted the increased depth to the batting line up, which was missing Messrs Lewis, Thain and Buck. Whilst Clilverd rightly takes the plaudits for a mature and well-built innings, that elevated his batting beyond his useful ‘cameos’, the skipper can also find immense satisfaction that there are four or five others that are also making solid contributions with the bat. Spears, Moses, Heath himself, Guest and Clilverd have all contributed to wins so far in 2022 which will need to be a common place sicne the departute of Hague and Hussain. Competition for places should increase next week as overseas Peter Hatzoglou arrives on Tuesday. Match highlights can be found below!

Elsewhere Mildenhall scored a statement victory at Great Witchingham, and next week’s opponents Copdock and Old Ipswichians beat Swardeston, as the seven-time winners are still left without a victory this term. New boys Witham in their first EAPL home game, recorded their first win over Horsford leave just two unbeaten sides.