TUCKER GARDNER PREMIER DIV. 1
Foxton 1st XI 252-3 dec. (38 overs) Granta II 68 (19.5 overs)
Lawrence Farnum's second unbeaten century against Granta II's this season helped Foxton close the gap on leaders Ramsey to a solitary point with just one match left to play. A very young visiting Granta side were no match for their hosts who won the toss and elected to bat. Opening bowler Jack Upton made an encouraging start having both openers Antonnel Atwell (16) and Cei Sanderson (12) back in the pavilion with only 38 on the board, but home skipper Peter Moor then joined Farnum and the match began to turn in Foxton's favour. In the next 14 overs they compiled a stand of 81 with spinner Alex Bush feeling the full force of the onslaught, his only bright spot was having Moor caught on the boundary for a brisk 34 to leave Foxton on 119-3 after 19 overs. Farnum was by now in fine touch as he approached 50, and all-rounder Max Bowen at number five helped him pile on the agony for Granta with a best of the match partnership of 133. After just 38 overs Foxton declared at 252-3 with the latter on a sparkling 48 not out (six fours) and Farnum enjoying arguably his best innings this season with a superb 127 not out (16 fours, four sixes).
The Granta reply found trouble in the very first over as Jeffery Douglas, beginning a hostile spell, trapped Richard Brown l.b.w. with his fifth ball. A brilliant one handed diving catch at slip by Douglas off the bowling of Mark Ferrari then dismissed visiting skipper Rychard Field to find Granta struggling on 12-2. Bowen was then introduced after five overs and together with Douglas they routed the young visiting side, who were not helped by two run outs, and they subsided to a lowly 68 all out with extras being by far the top scorer. Bowen rounded off an impressive all-round performance with 3-21, and Douglas, now approaching 50 wickets for this season with 4-30.
The top of the table now finds Ramsey on 357 points, Foxton 356, and outsiders Godmanchester on 342.
Next week Foxton make the short trip to Sawston whilst Ramsey visit Wisbech.