Fenstanton 161 all-out Bassingbourn 166-5 Bassingbourn won by five wickets

BATSMAN Neil Smith helped Bassingbourn record their first league win of 2011 on Saturday with a five-wicket victory over Fenstanton.

After being asked to bat first, Fenstanton were placed well at 91-1 after 20 overs with captain Michael Piaggesi finding the boundary regularly. His opposite number Ben Allen dismissed Piagessi for 62 after drinks to give Bassingbourn the lift they needed.

A 41-run partnership between Mitchell (10) and Logue (27) took Fenstanton to 132 but they went in quick succession. The last eight wickets fell for 29 runs as each Bassingbourn bowler took a wicket. Lewis Rawlinson (3-22) and Allen (3-37) were the pick off the bowlers as Fenstanton were all out for 161.

Bassingbourn’s chase got off to the worst possible start when losing a wicket in the first over. Opener Neil Smith and Scott Bates made sure the run-rate was met before Bates was bowled for 17.

James Hughes batted at four and was soon hitting boundaries with some clean striking. Smith matched Hughes shot for shot and both batsmen passed 50 in their 97-run partnership.

Hughes was then bowled for 51 and a brief collapse in the middle order followed with Tattersall taking 2-22.

Fortunately Smith found a reliable partner in debutant Tommy Nichols (9*) and it was left to Smith to finish the game in style with a six as he ended up unbeaten on 76*.