Report: Dave Reeder
Photos: Jo Smallwood
Reigning East Anglian Premier League champions Sawston and Babraham proved too strong in each facet of the game against Swardeston, chasing down just 156 with six wickets to spare.
After heavy rain the previous evening, it was no surprise when the visitors won the toss and asked the hosts to bat first.
Swardeston struggled to create any momentum in the powerplay and after the 10 overs had reached just 28 for 1.
Oli Longdon made 33 and Captain Alfie Cooper 44, but the hosts struggled to build sustained partnerships. Peter Lambert added 20, and Matthew Taylor 16 as Swardeston slipped from 111-6 to 155 all out.
Sawston and Babraham’s bowlers shared the wickets around, Jack Beaumont leading the way with 3-28 from eight overs.
Ben Claydon was miserly in taking 2-25 from 9.3 overs, while Callum Guest claimed 2-29. James Sykes also kept the pressure on with 1-12 from six overs.
Sawston and Babraham’s reply was given early momentum by Ralph Hayward, who struck 42 from 32 balls as he and Callum Guest (26) played with real intent, rotating the strike and putting pressure on the hosts’ fielders.
When Adam Todd removed both openers and Saranga Rajaguru had Ethan Rice (5) LBW, Sawston and Babraham had slipped to 77-3.
Ben Claydon’s unbeaten 53 from 72 balls, however, steadied the chase, as Claydon shared a fourth-wicket stand of 54 with Wayne White (13) before he was bowled by Lewis Reeder.
Lee Thomason (9 no) helped finish the job as Sawston reached 159-4 in 36.5 overs.
The victory earned Sawston and Babraham 25 points and Swardeston 3 points.
Scorecard: https://swardeston.play-cricket.com/website/results/7205638
