Rams stay unbeaten as Hatzoglou makes debut!

The Rams met Copdock and Old Ipswichians, in what some thought was a contest between the best bowling and best batting units in EAPL 2022.

Sawston and Babraham won the toss and opted to bat, on a deck that looked good but perhaps wasn’t the road of last week. New opening pair Callum Guest (21) and Noah Thain (36) again gave the home side a decent start. They had rattled along to 55 inside nine overs seeing off the experienced Michael Comber (1-59) in the process before Guest was snared by Luke Froggatt (2-30). Luke Spears then came in and played the anchor role, so effectively performed by Guest in recent weeks. He saw Thain, Moses (14) and last week’s centurion Ben Clilverd (26) all depart as Froggatt received excellent support from Freddie Heldreich (2-41) and Jack Beaumont (1-33) as the home side moved to 152 for 4 in the 32nd. The two Copdock spinners putting the brakes on what looked like being a 300+ score at one stage.

Northamptonshire’s Nathan Buck (36 from 35 balls), recuperating from a heal injury, entered the fray and he added 57 runs and some gathering momentum with Spears. Skipper Heath (5), overseas debutant Peter Hatzoglu (11) and George Darlow (8 no) then helped the Rams anchor add 61 runs in the final seven overs. The innings closed as Spears went to three figures (off 116 balls) on 270 for 7. This meant a second consecutive hundred for a Ram at home and was Spears’ second ton of the season following his debut ton in pre-season.

The Rams opted to open with spin and seam with Hatzoglu and James Vandepeer opening up with the ball. Copdock’s new recruit Sam Arthurton, the prolific former Gt. Witchingham player, opened up with the Rams regular nemesis Ben Claydon. Arthurton had a narrow escape as he survived a close call for a run out (by Buck) at the end of the first over. This was a short-lived reprieve as Hatzoglu, bowling leg-spin and googlies, at a very lively pace snared Arthurton leg before. Vandepeer (1-17) then removed the dangerous Claydon (19).

Alex Oxley (10) and skipper Beaumont (27) looked to be steadying the ship as the Aussie spinner took his sweater. However, Mark Smith (2-19) removed both Oxley and Comber within the space of three balls as the reply slumped to 39 for 4. With Beaumont (27) looking in good touch the visitors were still not out of it. Their strength in depth highlighted by Donald Mlambo’s presence at number seven, Mlambo had enjoyed his last visit to Spicers when he had hit a ton. The Rams had their first impressive sight of ‘Buck the bowler’ as he bowled four lively overs whilst tentatively finding his way back from injury.

The Rams then tightened the screw as Darlow (2-18) and Hatzoglou weaved their magic. Darlow picking up four excellent catches and Hatzoglou finishing with an incident packed 5-51 on debut. Indeed, it took lower order runs from Jacob Marston (16), Fergus Atkins (19 no) and Heldreich (10) to get the visitors to 129. The home side’s bowling strength highlighted by the fact neither Moses or Guest was required. MATCH HIGHLIGHTS BELOW.

With Bury inflicting a home defeat on Mildenhall the Rams sit proudly on top of the table with three wins from three. Sudbury with a comprehensive thrashing of basement boys Saffron Walden as the only other unbeaten side (they have only played two). Great Witchingham got back on the bike to win a high scoring affair at Swardeston (who remain winless). Frinton got themselves up and running with a tight win against newcomers Witham.

The Rams second string started their Whitings Premier Two campaign , where incidentally our first team were just a few seasons ago, with a tricky trip to Waresley. The early loss of last season’s leading scorer Ben Benson (2), his new opening partner Robbie Matthews (4) and Marc Pearson ( left the Rams struggling at 31 for 3 (on a ‘sporting’ track). Ant Phillips (26) dug in, as Callum McLean departed on 41, and he found a useful ally in Sean Jenkins (21) as they took the score to 76 for 5 before Philips resistance was ended.

The Sawston skipper, hiding at number seven, then added a further 18 with Jenkins but at 94 for 6 the game was in the balance. The skipper, however, rescued things with the help of overseas Chris Dixon (2) with whom he added 36 and then fellow debutant Steve Arthurton (8 not out) who helped him add a further 29. Griggs was out on the last ball of the innings for 56 (from 52 balls, 7 x 4, and one maximum) as Sawston totalled 159. The wily Buckingham Jones (2-13), Robert Lewin (2-29) and new recruit Dominic Ashcroft-Walker (2-40) all picking up braces.

The home side’s reply was devastated as they slipped to 18-6 as new boy Dixon (2-11) and Sean Ward on his return to second team action (3-21) started impressively. The home side recovered to 60 for 7 with Ben Evans (37) and Lewin (21) giving the home side brief hope. However, the visitors spin duo of Phillips (2-6) and Atherton (2-5) wrapped up the tail as the Rams made it a winning start with a 76-run win.

Sawston and Babraham III’s made it three out of three on the day for the Rams, as they begun life in CCA Junior 2 following their promotion last season. They started their 2022 campaign with a tricky visit to Barley, who not so long ago were plying their trade in the Senior league.

The Rams batted first and got off to a solid start with Oliver Borley (22) adding 48 with the help of Wes Potschul (12) and Ian Smith. When Borley departed on 48, he was very quickly joined by Scott Barker and Jason Metson as 48 for 1 became 56 for 4 with Luke McMahon (3-45) inflicting the damage. Sanish Gopolan on debut (21) then added 81 with Smith. Smith was then out on 147 for 6 having made (68 off 61 balls with 14 fours). There was still work to be done and Gareth Everson (30) on debut, on re-joining the Club after about 15 years, helped Skipper Jake Ellis (35 not out) and the tail to add a further 75 before the innings closed on 222 for 8. Ben Cayford (2-40) and Theo Herholdt (2-42) picking up braces.

In reply the home side lost two quick wickets Ayra Saeb-Parsy (1-39) and Torin Phelps (2-26) made early inroads. The home side then recovered with Edward Whybrow (24) and Dave Clements (14) adding 55. Gopolan snaring Whybrow as he bowled eight tight overs for just seventeen runs. Smith (1-39) picked up Clements as the Rams picked up two wickets on 82. Jason Metson in his first game for three years then rolled back the years to pick up 3-22 and Sam Browne helped himself to 2-14 as the Rams picked up an impressive 49 run victory despite Ali Wallace’s (33) resistance and some late runs from Clayford (19) and Patrick McMahon (13 no).