The juggernaut keeps on rolling!

Sawston and Babraham took their winning run to nine consecutive matches, and five out of five this season with a demolition of title rivals Great Witchingham.

Sawston still suffering the early season availability issues that regularly rob them of Darlow, Thain, and Stafford looked again a bit vulnerable with Spear’s continued absence. The visitors won the toss and decided to bat. Things were progressing reasonably well as they reached 28 for no wicket with the ever-reliable James Spelman (15) and his new opening partner James Baker (7) at the crease. However, a terrible mix up led to Peter Hatzoglou running out Baker, Spelman was then dismissed by James Vandepeer (1-15) and then Mark Smith (1-24) snared, the prized wicket, of the overseas Yaseen Valli as three wickets fell in the space of four balls.

New signings Drew Beazleigh (22) and Jonjo McCabe (19) tried to get the innings back on track. They had added 31 in six overs before Hatzoglou returned to the attack. He removed McCabe, and Brett Stolworthy in consecutive balls, both lbw, as the visitors lurched to 59-5. Charlie Rogers and the stubborn Beazleigh was stumped down the leg-side before Peter Trewick became the Australian’s fifth victim (5-28). Callum Guest (2-6) then put the visitors out of their misery by picking up skipper Andy Hanby (10) and George Hooper as the innings closed on 90 in just 29 overs.

With Hatzoglou in particular, clearly in a hurry to have an early finish he and Guest rushed the score along to 66 for no wicket. The Australian was out one the last ball of the tenth over having scored a run a ball 32. His partner Guest (24) went six runs later before Charlie Lewis and skipper Dan Heath saw the Rams home by eight wickets in just thirteen overs.

You need to have stronger nerves if you are a Copdock and Old Ipswichians player or supporter who this week won by three runs following up their one run victory of last week. This time they dented the title aspirations of Bury St. Edmunds. Elsewhere Sudbury’s great start continued, and Swardeston and Saffron Walden got first wins under their belts as Witham and Frinton were pulled towards the bottom of the table. Mildenhall had a free week. Unfortunately, that’s where the good news ended for the Rams as all the other teams suffered their first defeats of the season.

The seconds had Blunham 46 for 5, as Chris Dixon (4-43) and Sean Ward (4-56) made early inroads. The home pair of Gavin Hall (43) and Conor Hurman (64) then batted sensibly to add 109 runs before Deryn Fowler (34) added valuable runs to take the total to 232. The total enhanced by 49 extras! In reply the Rams, again, found themselves in trouble at 80 for 6 as Benson (15), Smith (14) and Griggs (23) all got starts. Unlike last week they were unable to dig themselves out of a largely self-dug hole, but Jenkins (14), debutant Sanish Gopalan (25) and Chris Dixon (23) at least ensured a couple of batting points as the Rams were bowled out for 155 in the 42nd over. There were braces for the home side’s Hussain (2-22), Hall (2-31), Benson (2-17) and Goldsmith (2-38).

The Club’s third team were beaten by Bassingbourn by 5 wickets in their first home game of the season as the visitors chased down a modest 161. Last week’s hero Wes Potschul (35), Scott Barker (24) and Gareth Everson (21) all got starts but were unable to capitalise on them. Steve Holt (3-25), and braces for Nuwan Athukorala (2-16) and Quintus Harmer (2-18) helping to restrict the Rams. Hugh Myers (40 not out) anchored the reply to ensure a couple of reasonably early breakthroughs were not going to be telling. He received excellent support from James Robinson (40) and Ben Allen (24) as the visitors got home in thirty five overs. Skipper Jake Ellis without his usual keeping gloves showed his attack the way with (2-26) and received good support from Jon Windsor (1-31). The skipper ruing the loss of Sanish Gopalan who had been promoted to the 2nds.

The fourths suffered a ten-wicket loss at counterparts Cambourne where Shivananjappa (63) and Barker (80) astonishingly knocked of the visitors’ respectable 176 in just 27 overs. Earlier the Rams Richard Molton had scored 71 and Naga Yanamandela (21). The Durranis, Nawfal (3-18) and Abdul (2-12) doing the damage