Wheat stamps his mark on Bears as Castor close in on title

Cricket - Table-toppers keep winning

Castor CC are closing in on a return to Cambs League cricket. The Port Lane players are six points clear at the top of HuntsDivisionOne withthree gamestogoafterendingthetitle challenge of Burghley Park Bears in style last weekend.

Castor beat Burghley by 54 runs thanks mainly to a terrific all-round display from Mark Wheat and a run-a-ball innings of 85 from skipper Reece Smith.

Wheatmade101andadded 156 for the fourth wicket with his captain as Castor amassed 275-6 in their 45 overs.

Burghley l ooked good whenHenryCharlton(78) and Gareth Hook (56) were piling on the runs, but Wheat dismissed the former on his way to 3-17 from six overs and the visitors eventually closed well short on 221-9.

Castor’s sole rivals for the title and promotion are now Ramsey seconds and ‘ the Rams’will jumptothetopthis Saturday if they beat Southill Park at Cricketfield Lane as Castor are without a fixture.

Thecrunchmatchwilltake place on September 3 when Castor host Ramsey at Port Lane.

RamseyfirstXIhavenotyet given up on a Cambs Division Onetitle success aftercaptain Michael Cafferkey registered his second successive ton in a 60-run win over Eaton Socon.

Cafferkey scored 104 of his side’s 185 all-out and the win lifted Ramsey into second place, albeit well behind leaders Foxton.

Ramseyhaveatrickygame at Saffron Walden on Saturday, when Foxton will be at home to Ketton.

The Rutland Division One title racewasblownwideopen last weekend when leaders Bourne paid the penalty flor travelling with nine men to Wisbech.

The home side won by 80 runsthanksinparttohalfcenturies from Jack Hargreaves. DominicStannardandDanny Haynes.

Wisbech are second in the table, just ahead of Nassington, and the teams meet at Fotheringay Road on Sunday.

Nassington kept in touch at the top with a 54-run win at Barnack. Adam McDermott cracked 56 for the winners.

Mark Wheat was in great form for Castor against Burghley Park.