Ashwell have the edge

A SOLID bowling and fielding performance gave Ashwell the edge over Barley and maintained their position at the top of Cambs Junior Division 1B.

After an opening stand of 20 between Barley's Jamie Walters and Brian Symes (16), Matt Skelding claimed their four top batsmen, with Barley struggling at 35 for 4.

Mark Downer (26 not out) stood alone as the wickets fell at the other end, with Skelding finishing with 6 for 22 from his 10 overs, and after receiving support from Gary Simmons (2 for 26) Barley reached the 20 over halfway point of their innings at 51 for 8.

The Barley tail batted sensibly, taking the score to 103 all out, with Tim Moynihan taking the final two wickets in his spell of 2-14.

Ashwell's fielding had been sound, with Steve Parkhouse taking three catches, however a total of 103 was unlikely to be easy.

Peter Chuck (2 for 16) and Brian Symes (2 for 11) reduced Ashwell to 29 for 4.

This brought Gary Simmons and Tim Moynihan to the crease, and both played showed their experience. Moynihan was caught behind for 21 with the score at 67 for 5, with a further 37 needed for victory.

However, Ashwell showed why they are becoming one of the teams to beat with Simmons (21) and Jonathan Merrell (16 not out) seeing the job through, with the hosts reaching 107 for 6 from their 35.4 overs.

In Cambs Tucker Division 2, Abington slipped to their fourth straight defeat following Weston Colville's challenging 272 for 8.

Adrian Westley did most of the damage for the hosts with a well-worked 83.

Adam Curtis (34), Adam Taylor (30) and Alex Meddle (42) also pushed the score along, despite the best efforts of Stuart Duquemin and David Furlow who took three and four wickets respectively.

James Webb (21) started Abington's response well, and Duquemin hit 28 before he was out lbw.

A stand between Russell Knight (28) and David Furlow (13) offered a glimmer of hope, but Abington were all out for 121.

In Cambs Junior Division 3C, Abington seconds also suffered a defeat against Weston Colville opposition, although this was a narrow one-run loss.

The visitors were all out for 141 from 37.3 overs, with Andy Brightmore top scoring for Weston with a well-taken 79. Jerry Hall eventually snared the danger with the first of his four wickets.

Abington's response looked more than capable when Colin Godsmark (41) and Greg Wagstaff (18) started brightly.

However, despite Hall's 58 not out the rest of the Abington batsmen struggled, and were 140 for 7 at the close.

Continuing their fine form Cokenach beat Bar Hill by 73 runs in Cambs Junior Division 1B.

However, in Cambs Junior Division 5C Cokenach seconds were beaten by 59 runs, scoring 113 for 9 in reply to Sawston fourths' 172 for 6.

Foxton seconds had a 106-run win at Babraham seconds in Cambs Junior Division 2C, hitting 218 for 5, with Babraham shot out for 112.

The Cambs Junior Division 5C derby ended in Barley seconds' favour as they saw off Bassingbourn seconds by 19 runs. The hosts did just enough, chalking up 143 all out, before Bassingbourn came in and could only reach 124 all out.

There was also a defeat for Barrington in Cambs Senior Division 1, as they slipped up at home against Fulbourn Institute by nine wickets.

The hosts were all out for 135, and Fulbourn eased in at 136 for 1.

Barrington seconds bounced back with a 76-run win at Thriplow thirds, scoring 179 and shooting out the home side for 103.

KICK-STARTING an impressive week of cricket for the club, Reed recorded a much-needed victory over Letchworth with a brilliant 35-run win in the Saracens Herts League Division 1.

They racked up 225 for 6 despite the early loss of Baz Curtis to Oxford University bowler Ed Morse (11-1-47-1).

However, skipper James Heslam (64) and Joe Curk put on 137 and drove Reed towards maximum batting points.

When Curk fell lbw to Marsh (19-3-65-4), Chris Jackson came to the crease and he followed suit by building a patient 40 off 56 deliveries.

Heslam then fell with the score on 169, and the innings closed on 225 for 6.

Cranston (45) and Hilliard (24) began strongly for Letchworth against Andy Young (5-1-26-0) and Peter Tidey (13-2-44-3).

And it took a breakthrough from Tidey when he had Hilliard caught by Chris Jackson at midwicket, to start the ball rolling, with the score on 47.

Franke-Matt was bowled for a golden duck by Tidey, leaving the hosts on 47 for 2.

Lee Johnson's (8-1-25-1) extracted some extravagant bounce from the pitch as he removed Simmons (15) with a vicious bouncer, again caught by Chris Jackson at gulley.

William Clarke then had Cranston removed with a nasty short delivery, thanks to a diving one-handed catch by wicket keeper Simon Jackson.

Clarke struck again as he had Elliott caught by Baz Curtis in the covers, and Will Dobson (4-0-25-1) then had March caught at deep mid wicket by Andy Young, and then took three more wickets and help his side claim the 30 points, as Letchworth were removed for 189 off 42.2 overs.

Heslam said: "This was a great win for us. We all did our jobs in the team and took responsibility for the victory. We built good and patient partnerships, fielded well and applied pressure at the right times and when we made breakthroughs we managed to close them down at the right time."

Reed seconds entertained table-topping Dunstable and sent a clear message to their rivals with a brilliant seven-wicket win.

Restricting Dunstable to just 139 off their allotted 53 overs, Reed took control thanks to some splendid bowling from Graham Wilson and Edward Garrott.

In response, the hosts lost a couple of wickets early on, but the talented young Fergus Martin once again impressed with an unbeaten 42, and with Richard Johnson (58 not out) saw Reed home, with Johnson closing the game with a huge six.

ROYSTON seconds notched their a fourth league victory, against Bottisham & Lode seconds on Saturday.

Mick Miller (35) and Dave Isherwood (78) got The Crows off to a comfortable start,putting on 86 for the first wicket.

Iain Thompson (11) and Jon Harper (10) helped Isherwood take the score up to 180 with five overs remaining, but something extra was still required. And it came in the shape of Dave Boddy, who smashed an undefeated 45 from only 20 balls, with his unbroken partnership with Bruce Robinson (10 not out) taking the total to 234 for 7 - Royston's highest score of the season.

In reply Graham Darling (64) and John Timmins (70) put on 124 for the first Bottisham wicket.

Royston captain Isherwood then removed both openers on his way to figures of 7-2-29-3.

Paul Harris then took two wickets for two runs, and Toby Fynn, adding one more.

The visitors finished on 196 for 9 - the highest score in Division 4C this season by a team batting second.

The 20 points keep Royston in third place, but their season reaches a turning point with a crucial match this Saturday, with second-placed Wilbrahams the visitors.

GREAT CHISHILL beat Sawston seconds by six wickets. Sawston got off to a flying start with 50 soon on the board, but Brian Manning cut down the scoring rate, his eight overs yielding 1 for 23. With Steve Gardner (3 for 56) mowing down the middle order the visitors were limited to 224 for 7.

In response, Chishill had made a solid start before Campbell's hat-trick, in his second over saw the hosts lurch to 67 for 4.

Skipper Angus Gent then joined the in-form Kirk Chilton at the crease and the pair added 159 in a record fifth-wicket stand to sweep Chishill to victory.

Chilton (94) fell just short of a deserved century while Gent made a studious 58.

BALDOCK remain top of Division 5 following a nail-biting win at Knebworth. Matt Ayre and Alistair Jones bowled with accuracy to leave Knebworth on 60 for 3 after 22 overs.

The hosts fought back through skipper Holmes' fine 50 and added to a decent late innings the hosts registered 170 for 8, with Tim Dean and Ayre taking four and three wickets respectively.

The visitors got off to a reasonable start and reached 73 for 2 with Rob Peacock making a stylish 32. However, two quick-fire wickets left the game in balance, before Ayre (36) and Ranjit Rayat (20) edged the initiative back in Baldock's favour.

But just as their control looked to be tightening, Baldock lost two more quick wickets and at 122 for 6, it was the hosts who looked the favourites.

They then lost Muir and Andy French, and at 154 for 8 the visitors were teetering.

The lower order kept their cool, and Dean hit the penultimate ball for four to snatch the victory for Baldock by just one wicket.

The seconds also chalked up a win, with a fine performance against Bragbury.

Batting first Baldock totalled a rather disappointing 159 all out, with Pete Tily (40) and Ben Diplock (26) their main threats. However, Bragbury were all bowled out for 122, with Tily completing a memorable match with a splendid hat-trick.

The thirds had to settle for a draw in their game with Old Elizabethans thirds. The visitors made 216 for 5 from their allotted overs before Baldock managed 167 for 8.

On Sunday Baldock were handed a beating by Holwell, despite registering their highest score of the season.

Baldock batted first and thanks to fine knocks by Rob Peacock (54) and James Peacock 68 not out Baldock totalled 197 for 3 in 40 overs.

In reply, and after Holwell had lost Rudder for 6, in came Adam Parkin who proceeded to amass 146 not out in 20 overs. As a result Holwell reached the target with ease, ending on 202 for 1 off 26 overs.