CRICKET: Chatteris slump to fourth consecutive defeat

A dismal display with the bat condemned Chatteris to their fourth straight league defeat last weekend.

The local lads, who prop up the Cambs Senior Division One standings, were handed a 101 run defeat by Fenland rivals Wisbech Town 2nds at Fullers Cricket Ground – mainly thanks to a poor showing with the bat which saw them hit just 70 runs in their reply to Wisbech’s 171.

An impressive 102 from Sam Albutt and 24 from Shane Sleath saw Wisbech complete their 45 overs with a respectable –but beatable – score, before Chatteris slumped at the crease.

Anthony Bamford’s knock of 27 was the highlight for the town outfit as Wisbech’s bowlers tore through their resistance, with Danny Emmington, Lyndon Mallett and William Garler all helping themselves to three wickets apiece, including the dismissal of Anthony Palmer, Ben Perry, Andrew Wool and Anton Kaval for a duck.

Chatteris will hope to bounce back and pick up their first league win this weekend on their trip to Abington (1pm).

It was a more successful weekend for the club’s second side, however.

They claimed the points – and the local bragging rights – by seeing off March Town 3rds by three wickets in the Junior Division Three North.

And their star of the show was Archie Palmer, who took three March wickets for just nine runs before posting 39 with the bat.

Sam Mason (41) and Adam Westwood (39) helped March on their way until Palmer and fellow bowlers Luke Matthews, Ciaran Bailey, Shimron Thomas, Adam Whiting and Jack Saunders, who took a wicket apiece, reduced them to 169 after their 40 overs.

Palmer then picked the bat up and smacked 39 of Chatteris’ 170 before he was caught off an Adrian Bussey delivery.

Max Kelly (30), Harry Matthews (28) and Luke Parnell (21) were the other chief run-scorers as Chatteris reached their target with three wickets to spare.

Chatteris, who sit in third in the league standings, will hope to continue their promising early season form by beating second-from-bottom Chippenham on Saturday (1pm). March, who occupy fourth, take on Hardwick (also 1pm).