Second defeat of the season!

Sawston and Babraham suffered only their second defeat of the season and in the process potentially squandered their big lead at the top of the EAPL. However, it perhaps shouldn’t be too much of a surprise as the defeat was against Great Witchingham, who have proved themselves to be the Rams nemesis in the red ball game.

The Witches won the toss and decided to bowl, at Walcis Park. Peter Hatzoglou again opened with Callum Guest following their excellent partnership of last week. The pair were unable to match last week’s exploits as the home side’s skipper Andy Hanby picked up the wicket of the Australian for 14 with score on twenty six at the start of the fifth over.

Guest (32) then added fifty-nine runs with Noah Thain, on the youngster’s return from England u-19 trials. Guest adjudged leg before as Hanby added a second wicket. He followed this up three balls later by comprehensively bowling Alex Stafford (85-3). Hanby then repeated the trick when he dismissed Thain (45) and Tim Moses in consecutive balls to pick up a five-fer, could he take all ten? At ninety-six for five the Rams were in trouble. Skipper Dan Heath (12) then joined Ben Clilverd (42) and the pair added forty-nine before Heath was out to Charlie Rogers and then his partner followed four balls latter caught behind off Peter Trewick (1-23) as the Rams again stumbled at 149 for 7.

The Bedfordshire pair of George Darlow (26) and Alex Evans (29) counter-attacked, adding fifty-six valuable runs, before Hanby (6-82) removed Evans. Rogers (3-58) then took the wickets of Callum MacLean and Darlow as the innings closed on a below par 213, in the forty-eighth over. The gave the Norfolk side not only a modest total to chase but also an eternity to get the runs in!

The Rams struck early when Alex Evans had Jacob Rhodes caught behind down the leg side with the score on eleven. However, this brought Yaseen Valli to the crease who has been in stupendous form this year with almost eight hundred runs in the bank before the start of this innings. Neither he or the Witches opener James Spelman need much encouragement to bat long! They batted steadily and took the score to eighty-nine before Valli (40 from 75 balls) was deceived by Hatzoglou (1-65) edging to Darlow at slip. Spelman with new partner Drew Beazleigh (31 from 110 balls) then added ninety-two in a sedate 205 balls.

Spelman (98) was undone by a beauty from Darlow (1-23) agonisingly short of his ton having increased his league run tally to almost four hundred and fifty. Beazleigh followed six balls later as Evans (2-52) picked up a second (181-4). Harry Nunn and Peter Trewick then saw the hosts home for an impressive six wicket victory in the 68th over. The resurgent Norfolk side picking up their fourth win with two draws in their last seven red ball games, highlighting again their skills in the longer format.

Elsewhere Sudbury defeated Horsford in the battle between the two sides trying to get into the top three. Whilst at the other end of the table Frinton beat Saffron Walden to leave their opponents at the foot of the table; and Swardeston beat Witham to leapfrog them into the middle of the table. Bury’s draw against Copdock leaves them just above Frinton