Derby honours go to Bassingbourn

Bassingbourn (186-7) beat the weather and local rivals Steeple Morden (147-9) to go third in Division 4 South.

The toss took place on time with Steeple Morden electing to bowl but heavy rain delayed the start for an hour, resulting in the game being shortened to 28 overs each.

Bassingbourn got off to a poor start and were 25-2 but a half-century partnership from Scott Bates and Adrian Wilson steered them away from danger.

After Bates holed out for 32 to a well taken catch by Darren Jarman, Bassingbourn’s middle order all contributed with Wilson making 33 and captain Neil Smith adding 24. Top scorer was Ben Allen who carried on his fine form with a breezy 47.

Lewis Rawlinson scored an unbeaten 17 to take Bassingbourn to a total of 187. Hazeldine was the pick of the Steeple Morden bowlers, returning 2-38.

In response, Steeple Morden scored 13 from the first over but teenager Max Ayliffe snared two wickets in his first six deliveries and added a third shortly after.

With Morden behind the run-rate, Bassingbourn’s aim was to limit boundaries being scored on the small ground.

Morden’s Duncan Warner carried his side’s hopes but he was running out of partners as Connor Beeching (2-23) and Tom Andrews snared two wickets apiece.

Steeple Morden finished nine down with Warner undefeated on 63 as Bassingbourn ran out winners by 39 runs.