MOMENTS of sheer batting madness saw Wisbech Town firsts dance away with 30 Tucker League points in a badly rain-affected derby at March firsts. March failed by seven runs, having had five wickets and 31 overs scrubbed out through Saturday s rain. They w

MOMENTS of sheer batting madness saw Wisbech Town firsts dance away with 30 Tucker League points in a badly rain-affected derby at March firsts.

March failed by seven runs, having had five wickets and 31 overs scrubbed out through Saturday's rain.

They were set a revised target of 82 to win in 18 overs but fell to defeat with seven balls remaining.

With Shardul Brahmbhatt and Steve Seymour at the crease four and a half runs an over looked comfortable.

But when Brahmbhatt boshed a delivery from Chris Clark, who went on to take 3-14, down deep square-leg's throat nerves set in.

Tommy Howgego inexplicably attempted a reverse sweep and was caught behind and with seven runs needed young Kurt Cunningham had a rush of blood and was stumped.

It was an unfortunate end for the teenager, who earlier had taken 5-35 with his left-arm seamers.

In an extraordinary game of cricket to watch, Wisbech batted for 47 overs, after a lengthy rain break of 24 overs.

They picked themselves up after losing a wicket in the second over to March skipper Chris Ringham (1-42).

Damien Coad (37), Gary Freear (34), James Williams (43), Henry Rosier (30) and Simon Freear (29) all scored well to put Wisbech on track before Cunningham helped put the home side back in the picture.

Wisbech declared on 213-9 and originally March were set 118 runs to win, with seven wickets available in 26 overs. When rain again fell that target was subsequently revised for a second time.

With Andrew Mills (15) and Seymour (32) picking up their singles the run chase looked on...until those devastating batting blunders.

There was more bad news for March firsts on Sunday when they went down by eight wickets to Oakham in the Rutland League Division Two.

On a terrific batting wicket, only March's opening pair troubled the scorers.

County opener Andrew Mills and oversees player Steve Seymour put on 55 in the first 11 overs, before the Australian was bowled for 33 - having hit six boundaries.

Mills went on to make 52 before he was trapped LBW and from then on March had to rely on scraps.

Jake Wenman (18) and Andrew Stone (15) were the best of the rest as the side were dismissed for 154 with more than six overs remaining.

Oakham knocked off the runs in 27 overs for the loss of only two wickets.

They both fell to skipper Chris Ringham, while his normally reliable strike partner Seymour is not bowling like a player with 38 wickets behind his name.

He went for 38 off three...which about summed up the day and the weekend for March.