Left arm quick Sam Rippington was the toast of Cricketfield Lane on Saturday as his 5 wickets helped Ramsey 1st XI secure a winning start to the season and a maximum 25 points.
Ramsey won the toss and new skipper Taylor West elected to bat. Despite a slow start, Ramsey kept wickets in hand which allowed Michael Cafferkey (62) and Taylor West (69) to accelerate The Rams during the second half of the innings to a competitive 212 for 7. Overseas newbie Luke Stewart chipped in with 26 with West and the evergreen Michael Kay compiling a vital 8th wicket stand of 42, to take The Rams to a competitive 212-7 from the allocated 48 overs.
Castor's Bank Manager will be smarting somewhat because despite the clubs spending spree in the close season, his teams performance led skipper Rob Vitas to admit in the Peterborough Evening Telegraph this week that although 'The Team has changed completely from last season, but the results have remained the same'
He reached this conclusion after seeing his side stumble to 76 all out. Michael Kay ripped the heart out of Castor's top order, removing Vitas with only the second ball of the innings and then removing aussie import Luke Broekman in a miserly spell of 2-25 in 10 overs. From the other end, David Carlaw was even more tight-fisted with a spell of 1-5 from seven overs, including a wicket in his first over. Castor never recovered and following the introduction of Rippington to the attack, Castor rolled over and allowed Ramsey's bowling attack to tickle them on the belly as the 18 year old left-armer took 5 for 23, including an 18 ball spell of 5-6. Michael Cafferkey joined in the fun, replacing the now out-of-breath Kay to blow away the tail with two wickets of his own.