FOR the third time this season, Wisbech first team s failure to take the final wicket resulted in them settling for a Tucker League Division One draw. Saturday s home match against Granta II ended in a winning draw for Wisbech but it should have been vict

FOR the third time this season, Wisbech first team's failure to take the final wicket resulted in them settling for a Tucker League Division One draw.

Saturday's home match against Granta II ended in a winning draw for Wisbech but it should have been victory.

The Wisbech batsmen got off to a shaky start but the middle order steadied the ship and Gary Freear (71), James Williams (47) and Sam Albutt (42) helped Wisbech to 252-6 from 48 overs.

Granta resisted fine bowling from Craig Johnson (4-29) and James Williams (3-65) but they never threatened the Wisbech score and the visiting tail-enders held on to finish on 215-9.

There were no mistakes, however, from the first team in their Rutland Division Two match at Ufford Park on Sunday.

An excellent display of team bowling saw Johnson (3-52), Freear (2-7) and Orlando Prestidge (2-47) all make in-roads into the home side's batting line-up as Ufford Park finished on 209-8.

Dominic Stannard's dismissal for a duck proved to be unimportant as James Staveley (66) and Dan Mason (103 not out) made comfortable work of their target. Mason's impressive century came from just 73 balls.

Unfortunately, that kind of score was missing from the Wisbech II innings on Saturday and they slipped to defeat against Dean in Hunts League Division Two.

Keith Jakings (36) and Paul Strickle (33) proved to be the top scorers as Wisbech were bowled out for 176.

A good opening partnership for the visitors put them on track and although Jordan Trundle (3-16) and Dominic Stannard (2-59) returned good figures, Dean reached their target with four wickets intact.

Despite losing their Fenland League match at home to Ely and Haddenham on Saturday, Wisbech II put in an encouraging performance against one of the league's strongest teams.

Wisbech's efficient batting performance resulted in a low score of 114-9 but they succeeded in keeping their opponents in the field for the full 45 overs.

The home team frustrated Ely's talented batsmen and Jordan Trundle (2-4) and Ryan van Waterschoot (2-28) made the visitors work to reach their target after 20.4 overs.

Wisbech's young third team found the more experienced Bircham team difficult opposition in their West Norfolk Division Four home match on Saturday.

Both Ken Smart and Adi Peck scored 16 as Wisbech struggled to 64 and the visitors needed 10.4 overs to clinch victory.