Cambridgeshire (186) progressed to the semi-finals of the NCCA Trophy with an 85-run victory against Suffolk (101) at Burwell & Exning CC on Sunday.
The odds looked good on Josh Cantrell’s visitors reaching the final four of this season’s competition after they dismissed the home side, who won the toss and elected to bat, for 186 with 16 balls of their innings unused.
But an indisciplined display saw Suffolk collapse from 39-1 off only 4.5 overs to toss away the chance of a semi-final away to Norfolk, who defeated Lincolnshire by six wickets.
Raj Singh (2-28) removed both openers Wayne White (10) and Callum Guest (20) as Cambridgeshire were reduced to 34-2 in the 10th over, and it could have been 51-3 but Jacob Marston missed the chance to stump Dan Andrew on 11.
Andrew (63 off 84 balls) and Joe Tetley (47 off 62) added 107 for the third wicket in 21.3 overs, before Cambridgeshire’s innings imploded.
They lost their last eight wickets for 45 runs as Suffolk’s spinners wreaked havoc, Jack Beaumont taking 4-40, Cantell 3-29 and Tom Harper 1-27.
Suffolk’s reply got off to a rollicking start, Beaumont smashing 20 off eight deliveries before top-edging to wicket-keeper Andrew. Fellow opener Alex Maynard (27 off 33) departed seven balls later and the rot had set in.
It was after a short rain-break that Suffolk completely lost their way, three wickets falling for the addition of just one run in the space of nine balls, starting with Alex Oxley’s mistimed reverse sweep finding the hands of Lee Thomason at slip.
George Rhodes and Jacob Marston briefly rallied in a stand of 21 runs, before Marston top-edged a pull to deep mid-wicket.
Rhodes was ninth man out for 19, also picking out Harrison Craig in the deep, as Suffolk’s pitiful display with the bat – eight wickets falling to catches – saw them fail to occupy the crease for less than half their allocation of overs. James Sykes ended with 4-14, three from catches.
Cambs will travel to face Norfolk in the semi-finals on 4 August.
