Witham return to Spicers

The Rams after a couple of ‘average’ displays by their own high standards will be looking to keep their unbeaten run going and hoping to get back to winning ways. They meet EAPL newboys Witham whom they last met in the 2019 EAPL play-offs.

For many sides, as there was for the Rams, there is a learning curve when they start playing the longer format red ball games. From the outside it appeared that the change had caught out the new boys in their first experience however they have learnt pretty quickly and are arguably the form side over the last couple of weeks.

From our meeting in the play-off, and my experience of watching them in both play-off games in 2021, it was clear that their bowling was dominated by spin. For the visit to Spicers, we will get our first look at overseas seamer Onke Nyaku. They are strong up top, and may be able to call on Nick Browne (from Essex). Ex-pro footballer Cody McDonald is a consistent performer with the bat and has a happy knack of going big. Skipper Jake Wakelin is in good touch and he and Nyaku offer some mid-order fire power.

The home side will be looking to Charlie Lewis and Callum Guest to maintain their decent form at the top of the order but probably want more consistency from the middle order. They will also be looking for their seamers to rediscover some of the top form, that blew away Witham last time, and that propelled them to the title last year.

To a certain extent they will be looking to join up some fine individual performances to deliver the kind of complete and balanced team performance that was so typical last year. With the continued absence of Jimmy Vandepeer Callum McLean comes into to replace Sean Ward.

Poor availability for the second time in three weeks means that the other sides are scraping around trying to get full sides out. The seconds after last week’s fantastic result and performance will be away to local rivals Foxton Granta II. The thirds face a trip to Haslingfield and the fourths get back into action against their very local rivals Whittlesford.