Cam's title hopes hit by third defeat

CAM suffered their third defeat of the season on Saturday.

After again losing the toss, Cam were asked to field and were immediately put to the sword by openers Sikiara and Baverstock.

Opening bowlers Eddie Rendall and Gareth Udal could not manage to find a breakthrough as the score went past 100.

Baverstock reached 50 from as many deliveries.

The bowling change of Steve Ballard and Peter Hall produced a wicket, with Hall removing Baverstock caught and bowled for 56.

The arrival of Hoddy saw the run rate increase as Sikiara held up one end.

After hitting a couple of big sixes over cover, Hoddy was stumped by Graeme Brown off the bowling of Hall.

He was soon followed by Meecham who was bowled by Rendall.

With the score at 185-3 and 12 overs remaining, Sikiara increased the run rate along with Hall (46*), finding the boundary on regular occasions.

Sikiara finally reached a well-deserved 100 with a drive backward of square and eventually finished on 113 not out.

The run chase for Cam couldn't have started any worse as Udal was dismissed first ball and Adam Holloway soon followed for six.

Opener Ady Wood tried to attack and proved successful as he dispatched Hoddy to the boundary on regular occasions.

Support from Ben Williams (20) started to build a steady partnership before he was caught.

Wood passed a well-deserved 50 with a delicately played shot behind square. Unfortunately for Cam and Wood, he was bowled for 65 by Meecham.

Tom Deakin went in to support Hall but tried to attack one ball too many and played on for a quick 16 and Ryan Chandler went for eight.

From then on the Cam innings went into a decline with Hall being caught for 42. Brown and Steve Rice held up resistance, before Rice was adjudged leg before for three.

Steve Ballard and Brown saw off the remaining six overs, with Brown finishing 14 not out after playing some nicely timed shots through the off side and Ballard finishing 1 not out.