Where to start?!

The Club enjoyed a sensational Saturday with three high scoring wins out of the four matches played. There were more big partnerships than you could find at a lawyer’s convention! In the first team the opening pair almost broke the EAPL record for the highest partnership ever, although over three hundred it surprisingly wasn’t a Club record either. The Club record is held by Benji Benson and Wes Potschul. Wes who was not going to be left out on such a day added a century opening stand of his own with fourteen-year-old Henry Cotton, before going on to three figures himself. Wes and Henry’s achievement was matched later in the day as Joe Latham and Niall Barber also shared a three figure stand. There was another ton-up partnership when Charlie Borley and fifteen-year-old Sam Ronco shared significant runs for the fourths.

The first team travelled to Witchingham where they lost the toss and were asked to bat. The home side were a little bit unsure what to do as its was a used pitch, and they were a bowler light. They were soon regretting the choice as Wayne White and Callum Guest were quick out of the blocks. The pitch offered excellent carry and a bit of early movement especially for the Norfolk seamer Brett Stolworthy, however anything that beat the infield raced away to the boundary. The pair who seem happy batting in each other’s rhythm brought up the almost compulsory fifty opening stand at a run a ball. White who is having a prolific season then reached another half century with this coming from just forty-five balls. The pair brought off the hundred stand from just one hundred and three balls as the experienced pair of Joe Gatting and Monty Panesar temporarily held the scoring in check. The third fifty came just forty-two balls later. Guest moved to his personal half-century (from sixty-five balls), looking more fluent than he did initially where Stolworthy had found the outside edge on a couple of occasions, just before drinks were taken at one hundred and fifty-five for none! White moved into three figures for the second consecutive match from ninety-seven balls. The pair recording the double-ton partnership a few balls later (off one hundred and eighty-nine balls). The pair added the next fifty runs off a mere thirty-five balls before White brought up his personal one hundred and fifty (from one hundred and twenty-seven balls). Guest then moved to his first EAPL hundred of the year (from one hundred and twelve balls). The three hundred partnership duly arrived after just two hundred and forty-six balls. The pair then moved past the Pepper’s (Chris and Michael - 305) into second place in the all-time EAPL record partnership standings and were just three runs away from equalling the record (held by Swardeston pair Daniel Martin and Joel Abraham since 2011) when White fell. The Sawston opener was caught and bowled by Charles Birch (1-57) for one hundred and sixty-nine (from 136 balls, 21 x4, 6 x6). Guest continued to punish the home side’s attack as he and Yousuf Choudhary added their own fifty-partnership (from just 25 balls) taking the score past three-fifty. The trumpet was sounded for the final charge and Stolworthy was rewarded by having Guest caught in the forty-sixth over. Guest had scored one hundred and thirty-eight (131 balls, 18 x 4, 2 x 6). Choudhary was caught off Panesar (1-72) and Clilverd bowled by Stolworthy (2-51) as they both sought quick runs. Alex Evans (22 from 13) and James Vandepeer (11 from 12) then added thirty-two from the last seventeen balls. Evans in particular taking a liking to the former England spinner as the innings closed on a massive three hundred and ninety-four for four.

The home innings began and the consensus, certainly amongst the local fans was that it would be great if their team could at least get maximum batting points. The Sawston seamers performed their party piece by taking early wickets and the home side lost a couple of wickets in the powerplay. Hudson De Lucchi offered Lee Thomason some catching practice off Mark Smith (1-54) , in the first over. But, James Vandepeer (1-25) had to wait until the tenth over to remove the usually reliable Drew Beazleigh (20 from 26). The Witches had progressed to fifty for two at the end of the powerplay. This brought together the experienced pairing of Phil Mustard and Joe Gatting, who had recently signed for the Norfolk outfit for the month of August while he is back in the country from Oz. The pair looked at ease and  looked to have bags of time to play their shots as they raced to a fifty stand from just sixty-three balls bringing up the three figures in the twenty-first. Despite this the required rate was already into double figures. The ex-England and Durham keeper made it to his personal half-century from fifty-six balls. Gatting followed suit to register a debut half-century in exactly the same number of balls. Just as the home supporters’ hopes had been elevated Evans (1-43) induced a loose stroke from the former Swardeston right hander and Gatting was dismissed for fifty-four (from 60 balls) to leave Witchingham on one hundred and thirty-nine for three, one ball short of half way. Nathan Muggeridge joined ‘Colonel’ Mustard and they added twenty-five from twenty-balls before Muggeridge holed out off George Darlow (1-59). Mustard was then joined by his skipper Charlie Rogers with the wily left-hander moving to three figures (from 84 balls, 12 x 4, 3 x6). The Witches two hundred cam up shortly after. Rogers and Mustard had added seventy (from 61 balls) when Mustard attempted to hit another six off the ‘offies’ of White but could only reach the safe hands of Thomason. The left-handers one hundred and twenty-seven came from a lively one hundred and two balls (16 x 4, 3 x6).  The skipper then added another fifty runs with Witches stalwart James Spelman, the latest fifty arriving in just forty-six balls. Rogers (50 from 55 balls) went for one big shot too many as White (2-41)picked up a second as Clilverd snaffled a catch in the deep. Spelman (47 from 41) and Birch had a bit of fun until the innings closed on three hundred and twenty-one for six. The Rams winning by seventy-five runs. It would be hard to look past Wayne White for MoM but the Witchingham groundsman must have pushed him close. The strip that was also used for the NCCA Trophy semi-final had yielded almost thirteen hundred runs in the two matches.

The Rams delight at winning their fourth game on the spin was exponentially increased when news came through from the other grounds. The top two at the start of the day had lost. Copdock somewhat surprisingly at home to Sudbury, and Horsford had continued their own title charge by defeating leaders Mildenhall. This all meant that the Rams were now top by a point from Horsford, with Mildenhall just a further four points adrift with Copdock trailing the leaders by thirteen points. With just five games to go it is difficult to look past this quartet when looking for the EAPL 2024 champions. With the 2023 champions Swardeston fifty-four points adrift it is looking like their reign is over. It was generally a good week for the sides at the bottom end of the table as AB Wanderers shocked the reigning champions on the Common. Sudbury won at Copdock, Frinton won at Bury and Witham won the ‘six-pointer’ at Walden.

Our second team were also looking to make it four wins in a row and keep the ‘Great Escape’ on the go. They however came up short against an excellent Ramsey side who needed a win to maintain their title push. Taking a pragmatic decision on winning the toss the Rams decided to field. It was looking like a very long afternoon as former Sawston Ram Michael Cafferkey (111 from 113 balls) and Ramsey skipper Taylor West (69 from 87) put on one hundred and seventy-five for the first wicket before Julius Jackson (1-35) removed West at the end of the twenty-eighth over. Cafferkey with the help of Ben Saunders and Bradley had taken the score to two hundred and thirty-seven for two when Miguel Machado struck to remove the opener, this came after Rams skipper Ant Phillips (1-59) had dismissed Saunders. This was the start of a purple patch for the Rams as they picked up five wickets for just thirty-nine runs as Machado picked up 5-43. The tail wagged a little to get the visitors to two hundred and ninety-nine but crucially Bailey (1-49) and two run outs meant that SBCC had secured maximum bowling points.

In a familiar tale one or two Sawston batters got starts but were not able to press on. Only Ethan Rice (40 from 49) and Machado  with a typically belligerent fifty (from 37 balls, 4 x4, 4 x6) made any inroads. Ramsey’s overseas spinner, Sandun Madushanka (3-50), kept up his impressive run with the ball and was backed up by the opening bowlers Hodgson (2-23) and J Cafferkey (2-34). Elliot Cafferkey (1-43) picked up the other wicket before Michael Cafferkey bowled a double-wicket maiden as the Rams were dismissed for one hundred and fifty-two. The other results at the bottom on table went reasonably well for the Sawston side as only one side picked up more points. The Rams remain ninth two places clear of the drop zone.

My euphoria of watching the first team win was heightened when I returned to Sawston to hear that both the third and fourth teams had scored over two hundred runs each and both recorded impressive wins.

The thirds entertained Newport at Babraham Park and were in desperate need of a win in the highly competitive Junior 1 s. They won the toss and on another belter of a track at home decided to bat. Veteran Wes Potschul and apprentice Henry Cotton were not to be left out in a day of century stands, crickey this batting lark must have got easier! The pair added one hundred and sixty for the first wicket before Cotton was dismissed for forty-nine, just missing out on his second senior fifty. Snipes however was able to complete a personal century, on the day his SBCC record partnership came under threat, when he scored one hundred and one. The inform Joe Latham, backed up last week’s maiden ton with a rapid seventy-six as he and Niall Barber (50 not out) added yet another century stand (127) as the innings closed on two hundred and ninety-eight for two. Louis Wint (2-50) picked up both the openers.

Newport were bundled out for a paltry one hundred and six as Jack Hill (27), Yogesh Bhaglia (25), Nathan Wilkins (15) and Sam Farnham (12) all made starts but the Sawston seamers Dushyant Patel (3-7) and Beth Matthews (3-17) made the early inroads before skipper Jake Ellis joined in with (3-12) to give the Rams a valuable twenty points. Young bowlers Dhrona and Vivaan bowled well again but without success in the wicket column.

In Division 5s the Rams fourths travelled to Fowlmere to play Thriplow III. The visitors won the toss and opted to field. Contributions from Duncan Walker (59), Jeremy Tuck (31), John D’Arcy (25) and Aaron Cain (20) aided and abetted by fifty-four extras meant that the decision was looking questionable. The Rams skipper, Adrian Platt (4-28) led the way with excellent support from his young charges  with Zane Dennington (2-20), Sam Ronco (2-36), Ben Latham (1-29) and Arnav Wadekar (1-24) as the home side set a challenging two hundred and sixteen.

In normal circumstances a total over two hundred at this level will be more than good enough, and particularly for a Rams side that has at times struggled for runs. The Rams opened up with young openers Wadekar and Ronco. Wadekar was dismissed with eighteen on the board. Then guess what? On a day of century partnerships Ronco (56) scored his first senior fifty and added one hundred and fifteen with Charlie Borley (71 not out). Once Ronco had been dismissed Latham (20) and Sean Gardiner (19) helped Borley to take the Rams to the verge of a stupendous victory. Dennington (5 no) and Borley saw the Rams home with a ball to spare. There was a wicket apiece for Cain, Walker, Joseph and ‘Unsure’ as the Rams got home by six wickets and leapfrogged their opponents moving into third.

On Sunday (until Tuesday) the Rams hosted their first ever National Counties Three-day game when Cambridgeshire played Northumberland. The Rams with six players in the Cambridgeshire twelve put on an excellent display to showcase our ability to stage big games. In the first innings White (199 from 241 balls) and Guest (82 from 129) added one hundred and eighty-three for the first wicket. Will Routledge added an excellent ninety as a belter of a track allowed Cambridgeshire to post 475 for 6 in their ninety-over first innings. Off the field the ground and hospitality teams excelled once again with the efforts backed up by a large contingent of player-helpers.