Things could only get better!

After the events of a disappointing Saturday last week the players were largely philosophical believing in the optimistic words of D: ream that ‘Things can only get better’ or perhaps in Yazz’s words ‘The only way is up’! So, it transpired for the Club’s two most senior sides this week.

The Rams first team travelled to Witham for the first red ball game of the season looking for a performance and hopefully a win to kickstart their season. They gave a debut to new signing, Cambridgeshire’s player coach, Wayne White. The only other change was a late one when Yousuf Choudhary was re-instated to the squad after skipper Dan Heath (missing only his second game in five years) was felled by the lurgy!

Witham like Sawston have a mixed bag of results but would have been buoyed by their T20 Group win and a good win in the National Cup. The Essex side shorn of their latest overseas added Jamal Richards an ex-England U-19 from the ranks of Essex CCC. Stand-in skipper Callum Guest made the correct call in winning the toss and elected to bat perhaps hoping to exorcise the demons from last week or at least to enjoy batting with the sun on their backs. New man White opened up with Charlie Lewis in another revamp of the batting order, this highlights the squad’s biggest battle at the moment. In an improved display with the bat the visitors in the end posted a challenging total of 267 for eight in their full sixty-four over allotment. Whilst this showed a dramatic improvement on previous displays, and the fact that all of the batters got some valuable ‘middle’ time was good, however they will hope that there is a bit more in the tank and eventually one or more of them will cash in with a more decisive contribution.

A steady start saw White (20) and Lewis (29) add fifty-five in a 102 ball partnership. White was trapped by Stephens before four balls later Lewis chipped Wareing to mid-on. Luke Spears (30) and Ben Claydon (24) continued the steady progress by adding another fifty partnership getting the Rams to lunch at 108 for two. The break was again not the batsmen’s friend as Wareing had Claydon ‘strangled’ down the legside as ‘Nelson’s’ struck. When Spears followed nineteen runs later, to give Wareing (3-35) his third wicket the innings was at a bit of a crossroads at 130 for four. The Rams however continued with the own version of pairs cricket as Ben Clilverd (34) joined skipper Guest and they almost added the third fifty partnership of the innings before a mix up saw Clilverd run out after adding forty-nine (off 84 balls). The skipper then added another twenty-five with Alex Evans from twenty balls. The pair getting SBCC past the two hundred mark before Evans was out to Cody McDonald as he attempted to up the run rate.

With only six overs left it would need a good finish to leave the hosts with a challenging score to chase. Guest completed his half century (56 from 65) before he was ‘poled’ by a beauty from Richards (2-74) who then added the scalp of Kieren MacKenzie as he attempted to up the ante. An average looking score was then propelled into new territory as the late order ‘swung’ into action. Choudhary (22 from 8 balls) and James Vandepeer (15 from 7) adding thirty-four unanswered runs in just a dozen balls.

Witham started steadily as the established opening pair of Godwin (20) and Huntington added twenty five for the first wicket. They both fell within two runs of each other before the ‘wheels came off’ the home side’s reply. Twenty-five for none became forty-eight for seven! as the Rams picked up seven wickets in just sixty-two balls. Vandepeer (3-24) and Evans (1-26) started the carnage before Claydon (4-17) joined the party, at one point he had three for three! The tail managed to add a further twenty five before Mark Smith (1-5) took the final wicket, with home skipper Wakelin absent, giving the Rams a moral boosting 195 run win!

The Club would also want to wish Jake’s daughter a speedy recovery from her nasty sounding injury.

Elsewhere Bury’s own collapse (all-out 82) at Horsford saw the only unbeaten record disappear. Saffron Walden moved to the top of the EAPL and heaped more misery on Great Witchingham, who’s nightmare start continues. Mildenhall were held up by Wisbech for a draw. Swardeston surprised Sudbury in a battle between the past champions. Frinton’s up and down season continued as Copdock posted 356, with another century for Sam Athurton! So, Walden lead from Bury, with last year’s leading duo of Mildenhall and the Rams third and fourth respectively.

A back to near full strength second team also enjoyed a good day or at least a good half day! They demolished Waresley to register their second win of the season. An early brace from Sean Ward and an excellent throw from returning skipper Ant Phillips removed the visitors top order with only twenty on the board. They were never allowed to recover as change bowlers Will Bailey (3-21) and ‘birthday-boy’ Jake Raven (4-16), with sixteen of those runs conceded coming from wides, wreaking havoc. Only opener Angus Flint (12) and Jamie Baker (12) making it top double figures as they succumbed to 72 all out in just under thirty overs.

The Rams made short work of the chase knocking the required total off without loss in just eleven overs. Matthew Hague racing to, in huge contrast to his innings last week, sixty-one off just thirty-six balls. His partner Sean Jenkins scored a patient nine as the Rams closed out the game to leave Waresley pointless.

The good news continued as somehow, and despite and number of obstacles the third and fourth teams managed to field full sides. Despite fielding a weakened side and being put into bat by hosts Coton they managed to post a decent total. The evergreen Wes Potschul (60) posted back to back half-centuries and was well supported by fellow opener Alex Day (20). Gareth Everson (54) continued his decent run following his return to the Club last year by also hitting a fifty and there were some late fireworks from Torin Phelps (22no). The innings finished on 204 for 6 with Niall Barber’s unfortunate run out probably leaving the Rams a few short of a winning total. Lee Sanders with 4-59 from six eventful overs was the most successful bowler. In reply Adam Bradbury’s unbeaten 85 proved to be the difference despite Andy Leonard’s (3-38) as the hosts got home six down with almost five overs to spare.

The fourth team broke new ground when they fielded two ladies for the first time in a league match and it was also the first time they had fielded an overseas. Caitlin Malloy over from New Zealand, with our second team overseas Christy O’Brien was pressed into service. The ladies equipped themselves well with the Rams own Rebecca Free picking up a wicket with her first ball and Caitlin scoring her first run, and not out, on foreign soil. In the end it was a comfortable victory for Linton III, by 95 runs, despite a half century from Robert Benson and three catches for his brother Rick, pressed out of retirement for the game. Another retiree Stephen Summerlin picked up a couple of wickets. However, the main thing in Division 5 is that we get the game played.