In search of consistency
The Rams are again at home, and for the first time in a month are not facing a side from the top five. They face a Great Witchingham side whose own season has been a bit of an up and down one. Initially, with the pink ball they struggled and found themselves bottom, they then had a more consistent run and were within touching distance of a top four place before another poor run sees them third from bottom! The sides were washed out, with the Rams completing their innings in the fifty over contest before yet another downpour ended the contest, earlier in the season.
The Witches who normally have an abundance of runs at the top of the order, but like the Rams they have not been regularly posting match winning totals. In James Spelman and Yaseen Valli they have a couple of batters who normally sit in the league’s top ten, so they can be dangerous as they also have the ability to score runs all down the order. With the weather forecast a bit changeable and the visitor’s ability to frustrate sides bowling second, even when they fail to win, it might be a good toss to win. The Rams will be wary of an excellent and experienced attack with Norfolk’s Andy Hanby and Brett Stolworthy leading the seamers, backed up by William Means, James Hale and Charlie Rogers.
The Rams will be pleased that they only have one potential change following last week’s dramatic win. The fit again Luke Spears comes in after his finger dislocation. Louis Kimber was selected by Leicestershire for the four-day game starting on Wednesday, but thirty-seven wickets falling in the last two days may mean that the all-rounder could be back again with the Rams on Saturday.
Cambridgeshire pair Wayne White and Yousuf Choudhary will be hoping to build on last week’s positive opening stand. Yousuf may be keen to offer the skipper some advice after his successful week as Cambridgeshire’s U-18’s skipper! Elsewhere leaders Swardeston are at home to the new third placed side, Saffron Walden. Mildenhall will look to gain lost ground with a home game against Suffolk rivals Sudbury, with the visitors keen to keep their recent decent run going. Both Bury and Copdock have home games and will be looking to restate their own title ambitions when they face Wisbech and Witham respectively. Bottom side Horsford will be hoping that Renaldo ‘seven’ doesn’t have another red-letter day when Frinton visit!
The Rams second team head to Waresley hoping to avoid frustration with the weather and a potential banana skin on the pitch. Top meets bottom as Sawston bid for a ninth successive win (in completed matches). The thirds and fourths have been in altitude training all week as they both prepare for trips into the mountains. The thirds visit Great Chishill and the fourths are at Barley. Both sides will be looking for that ‘c’ word with more consistency particularly with the bat required for both sides.