Saturday, July 31, 2010

Scott Welcher made a stunning first appearance of the season for the 3rd Xl, but his 88 was not enough to topple second in CCA Junior League Division 2A, Newmarket, who won by 53 runs.

Welcher, who the previous week made an unbeaten 92 for the 4th Xl, put on 59 runs for the first wicket with Jamie Stimpson (26) in the 199-9 all out total.

The opening batsman struck 14 boundaries, one of which was a 'six', before being caught. Of the remaining batsmen Gary Nicholls made a quick 17.

That was in response to Newmarket's
252-9, in which Stimpson took 4-29 and skipper Matt Hubbard 3-50.

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Saturday, August 28, 2010

Only a couple of weeks ago the 3rd Xl had one foot on the relegation trap door in
CCA Junior League Division 2A - but a nine wicket success over Wisbech 3rd Xl has given them back-to-back wins and a ticket to play in the same division next season.

Manuj Patel and skipper Matt Hubbard shared seven wickets in the Wisbech total of 139-9, with Rob Cummings and Pat Ringham both making unbeaten half-centuries in the 141-1 reply.

Patel took the prized scalps of both Wisbech openers - Keith Jakings and top-scorer Paul Strickle (29). The opening bowler deservedly finished with figures of 4-28, as the visitors quickly found themselves 69-7.

Youngsters Fergus Brown (17) and Kieran Haynes staged a recovery and with skipper John Mallet weighing in with 20 not out, the visitors closed on 139-9.

Once again March skipper Matt Hubbard bowled well, taking 3-24 from his 10 overs.

After tea, the home side encountered a tight Wisbech bowling unit and at the 20 over mark the game lay in the balance at 48-1.

Rob Cummings then stepped up to the mark and smashed a mighty 59 not out off just 35 balls. He cracked 11 boundaries, including a 'six' during an innings that completely took the game away from the visitors.

At the other end Pat Ringham was very watchful of some good bowling from youngsters Haynes and Brown before he too finished on an undefeated 51.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

The 3rd Xl are now perilously close to the drop zone in CCA Junior League Division 2A, following their worst performance of the season at Little Downham, where they were beaten by 123 runs.

A dropped catch off the first ball of the game set the standard for a poor fielding display, as skipper Matt Hubbard took 3-57 in the home side's 245-5.

Opener Peter Baker survived the first ball and March spurned a further three chances to get him out - that cost them 45 runs. It was a similar case with home skipper Phil Cornwell and most sides in this area know that can be painful mistake...and it was to the tune of 73 hard-hit runs.

Rob Cumming made a stunning start to the March innings with a quick-fire 30 that included six boundaries. But at the introduction of spin he played one too many attacking shots and was caught.

That was the first of six wickets for James White, who only a few years ago played a couple of seasons for March Sunday 2nds.

He helped dismiss the visitors for 122, with 28 runs from Gary Nicholls the only other innings worthy of note.

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Saturday, August 21, 2010

With no second team game, the 3rd Xl were strengthened for the trip to fellow CCA Junior League Division 2A strugglers Wilburton, where Rob Moden crashed 132 and Josh Jackman took 5-13.

Moden took just 106 balls for the only century in the side this season, as March rattled up 205-7. The right-handed opener hit and 20 boundaries, including half a dozen 'sixes', as he virtually took on the home bowling attack on his own.

Jackman then helped demolish the home side as Wilburton were bowled out for just 44. He only bowled 4.5 overs, with James Beresford picking up 2-12.

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