Cambridgeshire IIIrd team travelled to Wellingborough to take on Northamptonshire IIIrds last weekend for their penultimate ICC Division 5C match. A repeat of their 12-3 home win at the start of the season would keep the pressure on division leaders Bedfordshire II.
Geoff Green and Kaylan Sutton-Ziaian (J) (winning his first senior cap) opened proceedings in the first and second mens singles respectively and got the match off to a perfect start, both winning comfortably in straight sets. The ladies were equally dominant as both Kate Marshall at first singles and Laurel Bennett at second won in straight sets. 4-0 to Cambs.
The first round of mens doubles continued in a similar vein, with both first pair Will Hodgkinson and Josh Males (J) and second pair Geoff and Kaylan beating their opposing Nhants pairs in straight sets. Yet again the ladies matched the men by winning both first round ladies as Kate and Jess James (J), and Laurel and Lisa Lim were not troubled, winning in straight sets. 8-0 to Cambs.
With the match victory already in the bag, talk turned to the possibility of a whitewash. The men kept our hopes high with only Geoff and Kaylan dropping a set in the return doubles games and so securing all 3 points. Kate and Jess also dispatched the Nhants ladies 2nd pair in straight sets and the team watched with baited breath as Laurel and Lisa battled against the Nhants 1st pair in a long 3 setter. Eventually though it became clear that we had jinxed the whitewash, as they fell behind in the final end eventually losing to 9. 11-1 to Cambs.
With the match won and all the points decided the team could have relaxed, but instead maintained their level and took all three of the mixed games. First pair Will and Kate battled away for 3 long sets to eventually win to 11 in the 3rd. Second pair Josh and Lisa cruised through both of their games in two comfortable sets and Geoff and Laurel wrapped things up by winning in 3 at 3rd. The 14-1 win is a great result for the team and keeps the pressure on Beds. Special mention must go to Kaylan for a great display in his first senior county match. I’m confident there will be many more to come!
!! STOP PRESS !!
It seems the pressure finally got to Bedfordshire as they managed to lose their final match of the season 8-7 to Lincs II. This means that a 10-5 or better win for Cambs III against Lincs II on Sunday 4th March will give Cambs III the league title and put them into the playoffs!
More information about results of the Cambs III team is available on the Team Page.