Marvel Martin’s got ‘em smartin’

UNIVERSITIES ROUND-UP

MARTIN Andersson was in blistering form as Leeds/Bradford MCCU made short work of Exeter University to keep the pressure on at the top of the BUCS Premier Division.

The Middlesex 20-yearold hammered 68 from just 45 deliveries as Leeds/Bradford romped to a nine-wicket win, having skittled Exeter for just 130.

Harry Stow (4-21) did the damage with the ball as Exeter crashed from 80-2 to 89-6, and from there they had no way back.

And Andersson made sure in the chase, hitting 12 fours and a six as Leeds/Bradford cruised home.

That drew them temporarily level with Southampton Solent but the team from the south coast moved back top with a thumping eight-wicket win over Cambridge MCCU.

Having bowled out the hosts for 65, Solent needed just 16.4 overs to chase down the win.

Elsewhere, Durham MCCU enjoyed a great week with a pair of victories in as many days, against Exeter and then Loughborough MCCU.

A fine hundred-run partnership between Fred Ruffell (62) and Darrel Williams (33) helped them to 241-9 against Exeter before Abhi Singh (4-35) helped bowl Exeter out for 171 in a 70-run victory.

Loughborough, meanwhile, were bowled out for 196 – James Bracey top scoring with 49 while Ben Graves (3-35) and Singh (3-36) led the way with the ball.

Williams hit a quickfire 58 in reply but lacked support as Durham were reduced to 167-8 before Varun Sivaram (22no) and Harry McGrath (9no) saw them over the line.

Cambridge endured more misery as they were bowled out for just 59 all out against Cardiff MCCU in response to 199-9.

Jeremy Lawlor (73) and Alex Milton (63) added a crucial 143 stand as Cardiff recovered from 22-4, but Cambridge’s collapse was even more dramatic with Neil Brand’s 5-18 reduced them to 29-8.

Sam Handley’s unbeaten 24 at least gave them a semblance of respectability in a 140-run defeat.