Unbeaten centuries from Marlon Dias and Thomas Piddington secured a six-wicket win for Hadleigh in their Suffolk derby against Worlington, in Division One of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ryan Vickery, who struck 129 and then took three for 28 in Elmstead's 74-run win at Witham.Ryan Vickery, who struck 129 and then took three for 28 in Elmstead's 74-run win at Witham.

There were in fact three hundreds in this high-scoring affair at Friars Road, with James Watson plundering 121 off 122 balls to help Worlington to a total of 261 all out. They were bowled out with four balls left in the innings.

Watson struck two sixes and 14 fours in his knock, and was supported by a half-century from captain Richard Ford.

However, Ben Wallis pegged back the visitors by dismissing three of Worlington’s top five batsmen, and Dias then obliged with a spell of 5-0-19-3, including capturing the wicket of Watson.

Hadleigh looked destined for a sixth defeat of the season, when slithering to 86 for four in their reply, but Dias and Piddington then shared an unbroken stand of 176 to complete a fine comeback.

Dias faced 114 balls for his 106 not out, with 16 fours and a six, while Piddington raced to 100 off just 71 deliveries, hitting two sixes and 13 fours.

Both sides have now won four and lost five of their first nine fixtures.

There is no change at the top of Division One, with early pace-setters Elmstead, boosted by a star performance from Ryan Vickery, beating hosts Witham by an emphatic 74 runs.

Witham captain Matt McKendry won the toss and opted to field first, and although he himself took three for 57 off his 10 overs, Elmstead were still able to post a formidable 290 for eight off their 50 overs.

Vickery celebrated an impressive century, scoring 129 while aided by his skipper, Aidan O’Brien, who contributed 76 in a third wicket partnership worth 95.

In reply, opener Michael Godwin and No. 5 batsman Richard Green both scored 57, with Godwin and Michael Glynn (44) also adding 97 for the second wicket.

But Vickery then dismissed Glynn and Godwin in quick succession, both bowled, and later returned to take the final wicket (McKendry) of the match to seal a seventh win from nine starts.

Second-placed Wivenhoe were indebted to a marvellous individual display from Liam Hope-Shackley in their demolition of Mistley by 177 runs.

Australian Hope-Shackley completely dominated Wivenhoe’s innings of 270 for eight, smashing a glorious 169 off 112 balls, including eight sixes and 16 fours.

Mistley were then dismissed for a mere 93 in their reply, Matt Durrell quickly reducing the hosts to 36 for six with a spell of 7-1-11-5.

Woolpit dropped from second to third, after losing at home to fourth-placed Maldon by three wickets in an exciting match that went down to the final over.

Nathan Crudeli hit a run-a-ball 75 to boost Woolpit’s total to 233 for eight off 50 overs, although they were pegged back by some fine bowling from Matt Wild, who took five for 34 off his 10 overs.

Wild then struck a rapid 62 not out to see Maldon to victory, with just two balls to go and three wickets in hand. Ian Elliott (48) and Jimmy Ainscough (69) had put on 108 for the fourth wicket, but Hamish Fiddes intervened with three wickets, including that of wicketkeeper Ainscough, to set up a nerve-jangling finale.

Meanwhile, Ipswich stretched their lead at the top of Division Two from five to eight points, thanks to a comfortable nine-wicket victory at Clacton.

Damien Smith removed Clacton’s top four batsmen, including top scorer Brian Kulasena (41) on his way to fine figures of 13.5-2-48-5, while Rob Southall was just as effective with four for 13 off nine overs.

The Essex hosts were bowled out for just 111 in 33.5 overs, and Ipswich reached their target inside 26 overs, guided by a responsible 36 not out from captain Joe Rusby, and quickfire knocks from Stuart Hammond (32) and Mark Burch (29).

Copdock & Old Ipswichian 2nds dropped to third, after Easton celebrated a dramatic five-wicket win off the last ball.

Half-centuries from Karl Storey and Archie Gravell helped Copdock to 224 for five off their 45 overs, but the visitors squeezed home thanks to a cracking 91 not out from Alex Sayer. He struck the winning runs as Easton finished on 228 for seven at the end of their allocation.

Coggeshall moved up to second, in Division Two, after successfully defending a modest total of 144 to beat Lakenheath by 27 runs.

Shane Leech starred with ball and bat, for Lakenheath, taking five for 47 as the hosts were skittled out, and then making 52 in reply. However, he was powerless to prevent the Suffolk side from slumping to 117 all out, being the ninth wicket to fall.

Lakenheath had no answer to the Coggeshall duo of George Blackwell (four for 38) and William Blackwell (fur for 22).