Tucker Gardner Premier Div 1

Foxton 229-6

Ickwell 229-9

Foxton won by four wickets

LAWRENCE Farnum’s form with the bat returned with a flourish as his unbeaten century enabled Foxton to record a four-wicket win at home against a plucky Ickwell side on Saturday.

After winning the toss and batting Ickwell posted their highest league total of the season thanks largely to three batsmen, Shahbaz Hussain with a sparkling 64, opener David Robertson 58 and skipper Jay Szwajbak with 50*.

The home bowlers stuck to their task all afternoon and the wickets were evenly shared with two each for Max Bowen, Antonnel Atwell, Tom Stone and Mark Ferrari, with the latter making an important breakthrough in his first over, dismissing the dangerous Hussain lbw with his first ball after a 97-stand between the number five and opener Robertson.

A rain shower during tea freshened up the wicket and opening pace bowler Hussain took full advantage having both Foxton openers Gareth Roots and Atwell, plus skipper Peter Moor back in the pavilion with only 41 on the board.

Cei Sanderson joined Farnum and the pair launched a fightback with a 43 stand, and boundaries began to flow. Sanderson was then trapped lbw from a full toss by spinner Jay Szwajbak for 23 to leave Foxton at 84-4, but, fielding arguably their strongest batting line-up this season they were still feeling hopeful.

Adam Webster, batting at six, and Farnum, back to his very best, then notched a match-deciding stand of 110 for the fifth wicket.

At Webster’s departure for 25, bowled by James Hannaford, Farnum was on 92 and the winning post was in sight at 194-5. He then went on to complete the task scoring the winning runs with yet another boundary to finish on 103* and Foxton were home after 41.2 overs.

The league was flung wide open with leaders March losing their away match at Nassington, and with just four matches remaining their lead in now just 12 points and anyone of the top four, March, Foxton, Godmanchester or Ramsey may emerge as champions.

Foxton IIs lost by 85 runs at Ashdon and their promotion hopes are fading fast.

Next week the Is face a testing home fixture against Camden while the IIs visit Milton IIs.