Wisbech Town Cricket Club title bid falters with Eaton Socon defeat, with March and Chatteris also in action

Wisbech Town are in danger of letting the Cambs & Hunts Premier League title slip after losing at home to Eaton Socon by 57 runs on Saturday.

Their lead over Foxton Granta in Whiting & Partners Division 1 has narrowed to just nine points despite being well ahead a few weeks ago.

They need to beat eighth-placed cricket rivals March Town CC at The Avenue next Saturday in the final week of the season, but their opponents will be battling to stay in the division themselves.

Eaton Socon reached 253-6 when 50 overs elapsed as Jonathon Carpenter hit 113. George Gowler took 1-69, Anthony Palmer 3-50, Ryan Clark 1-27 and Gary Freear 1-62, all from ten overs.

Wisbech were bowled out for 196 in 46.3 overs. Openers Freear (32) and Clark (not out 109 off 131 balls with 13 fours) put on 50, but the rest of the order failed.

Wisbech 2nds are all but relegated from Division 3 after they lost swiftly at Eaton Socon 2nds by eight wickets.

Wisbech slid to 39 all out in just 16.1 overs. Chris Whyatt made 13 and George Purell 10.

Eaton Socon cruised to 40-2 from 7 overs. Brodie Ellis captured 1-22 and Adam Gardner 1-13.

Sixth-placed Chatteris won CCA Junior League 2 North derby bragging rights by 73 runs over basement and relegated side Wisbech 3rds.

Chatteris set 179-9 in 40 overs. Opener Ciaran Bailey was run out for 67 with 10 boundaries and a six, skipper Oli Bailey 17, Liam Boxall 17, Clive Welsman 17 and Adam Elliott not out 37.

Tom Freear took 2-34, Joe Dunning 1-39 and Colin Freear 8-0-24-4.

Wisbech were dismissed for 106 from 25.2 overs. Opener Nick Osbourne compiled 20, Tom Freear 20 and Henry Gowler 15.

Andrew Gunn bagged 1-22, Jago Pearson 3-39, Clive Welsman 2-15, Stuart Gunn 2-26 and Liutauras Puckorius 2-0.

March Town fell to defeat by Cambridge St. Giles by 32 runs.

St. Giles posted 239-8 in 50 overs. Captain Samuel Clarke grabbed 2-35, Sam Robinson 2-49, Aron Visser 2-53 and Udana Ranathunga 2-36.

March Town recovered to 207 all out off 46.1 overs after the top order crumbled around Brandon Phillips’ 91 off 137 balls with 11 fours and a six.

Numbers nine and ten Clarke (40 off 36 balls) and keeper Lewis Welcher (not out 39 off 39 balls) gave the hosts some respectability.

Destined for the drop, March 2nds lost at Longstanton Grasshoppers by 236 runs in CCA Senior League Division 1.

Promotion-chasers Grasshoppers hammered 425-2 in 45 overs, with openers James Mynott (not out 257) and Stephen Pryor (121) posting a huge stand of 349. Jacob Gray took 2-100 - and credit to Mark Deas with 0-25 off nine overs amid the carnage.

March replied on 189-6. Nigel Wright hit 71 with 13 fours, Adrian Bussey 17 and keeper John Gilson 61.

Chatteris’ first team triumphed over visitors Horseheath in CCA Senior League Division 1 and still have hopes of a top five spot.

Horseheath were 118 all out in 30.2 overs.

Chatteris were 120-1 from 30.3 overs at Fullers Cricket Ground.

Fifth-placed Wimblington lost to Hemingford Park - the team above them - by 132 runs in CCA Junior League 4 North.

Away side Hemingford posted 256-5 when 40 overs closed.

Wimblington reached 124 all out in 37 overs.