Captain Cooke navigated Cambourne's 1st XI to a third win in a row, this time against local rivals Longstowe on Saturday. Cooke, one of the most rounded players in the league, took 4 wickets and sailed Cambourne home with vital runs at the end of the match.

Cambourne took the field in grey skies and a greasy outfield. Paul Darrington and Toby Wilson opened the bowling, and it was the young gun Wilson who made the breakthrough. The first wicket came via a stumping from Chris Cundell (who had his best game with the gloves for Cambourne). The second wicket came with a reaction catch at first slip from Vasu Kumanduri, who snared the ball in front of his spectacles.

Longstowe dug in and their middle order batted stoically for many overs, cutting and nudging singles and twos. George Lewis and Vivek Joseph did an excellent job in containment, and Lewis and Cundell (who stood up to the stumps) worked well in partnership together. Longstowe stepped on the accelerator with 15 overs to go and pushed on to their final total of 177 for 9. They would certainly have scored more had it not been for Cooke's haul of 4 wickets and some very committed fielding.

The sunshine had reappeared over tea and the pitch dried out fairly quickly. Cundell and Ameya again got Cambourne off to a positive start, and batted confidently together. Cundell unfortunately got a shooter and as out lbw for 35 with the score on 50. A mini-collapse now started with Ameya (23), Russell Shahadat (0) and Darrington (11) soon following, leaving Cambourne on 70 for 4 and Longstowe smelling victory.

The revival came from number 5 and 6, Vasu and Ed Garratt, who swung the game back in Cambourne's favour. Vasu scored 33 until he was clean bowled and Garratt scored 35 off 36 balls, including a six over third man. With 40 required off 10 overs, Matt Casey and Cooke came to the crease. Both batsmen held their nerve to see Cambourne home. Casey (16 not out) finished the job with a cover drive for 4 off Slater, comfortably the quickest bowler that Cambourne have faced this season.

Longstowe CC - 1st XI

Bowling

1st XI