Three of the top four teams in Division One of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship, at the start of the day, suffered defeats in the 10th round of matches on Saturday.
Third-placed Woolpit were beaten at Worlington in the West Suffolk derby, while Maldon endured a surprise defeat at the hands of then-bottom club Haverhill, and former leaders Elmstead were toppled by Wivenhoe in a top-two clash.
Mid-table Worlington inflicted a fourth defeat of the season on Woolpit, who were relegated from the East Anglian Premier League last year. The hosts triumphed by 72 runs.
Worlington captain Richard Ford had won the toss and elected to bat, and he led from the front as his side amassed a total of 251 for nine off their 50 overs.
Ford made a forceful 82 off 90 balls, including 14 fours and a six, to put Worlington in a strong position. He was fourth out with the score on 129, but there was no respite for Woolpit as Ziaf Kulasi (63) and Daren Hayward (61) proceeded to put on 92 for the fifth wicket. Kulasi’s entertaining knock included five sixes.
Barry Collins took three for 30, off his 10 overs, but Woolpit were soon struggling in their reply, losing both their openers, skipper Will Parker and Jack Rowett, with just four runs on the board.
Nathan Crudeli (58) and James Deeley (44) engineered a recovery with a stand of 106 for the third wicket, before both men were removed in quick succession by Graham Downey.
That prompted a Woolpit collapse, Downey taking four for 35 off his 10 overs before opening bowler Cody Golding (three for 34) returned to the attack to remove the last two wickets.
For Woolpit, who were bowled out for 179 in the 46th over, it represented back-to-back defeats after losing at home to Maldon the previous weekend.
Elsewhere, Elmstead were knocked off their perch by Wivenhoe Town in an all-Essex top-two clash at Rectory Road.
It was a low-scoring affair, with Wivnehoe indebted to good knocks from James Butcher (46) and skipper Harry Burnett (45 not out) in their 181 for six off 50 overs. Burnett and Joseph Nicholls (11) added a precious 54 runs in an unbroken stand for the seventh wicket.
Elmstead had won seven of their first nine matches, but they were always on the back foot during their reply. No visiting batsman managed to reach 30 as they were bowled out for just 98, off 36 overs, to lose by 83 runs.
All-rounder Butcher rounded off a good individual display with figures of 10-2-28-4, after Matt Durrell had taken the important early wicket of Aidan O’Brien, and Liam Hope-Shackley had dismissed captain Jordan Elliott.
As a result, Wivenhoe have leapfrogged Elmstead into top spot, leading by two points.
Maldon slipped from fourth to fifth, as Haverhill clambered off the basement with a four-wicket success. The home side were bowled out for 205, off the last ball of their innings, wicketkeeper Jimmy Ainscough top-scoring with 52 off 59 deliveries.
Dan Pass took four for 54, off his 10 overs, and although he was an early victim of Haverhill’s reply, bowled by Jack Riley for eight, the visitors were soon into their stride thanks to a match-winning century from Anthony Phillips.
Phillips put on 75 for the second wicket with James Boulton (33), and later added 70 for the sixth wicket with David Humphrey (333 not out). Phillips was dismissed with Haverhill just five runs short of their target, having scored 103 off 132 deliveries, but victory was achieved with 16 balls to spare.
Elsewhere, a cracking century from Brock Price saw Hadleigh to a massive 113-run victory over Witham. Price blasted 150 off 124 balls, with nine sixes and 14 fours. He shared stands of 81 for the first wicket with Ashley Clark (23) and 146 for the second wicket with wicketkeeper Callum Morrin (63).
Hadleigh’s final total of 333 for five was always going to be beyond Witham, especially as Thomas Piddington raced to 39 off 18 balls late on. Witham were soon reduced to 21 for two, and although Carl Braggs hit 86 at No. 5, they were eventually bowled out for 220. Daniel Shanks was the chief destroyer, with six for 37.
Halstead are up to fourth in the table, helped by a wonderful hundred from their captain Joshua Wells in a win over Frinton 2nds by 107 runs.
Wells struck an unbeaten 173 off 107 balls (26 fours), supported by Neale Dakin (76), as Halstead totalled 333 for six. Frinton reached 226 for five in their reply, aided by 91 from opener Anthony Stubbs and 57 by Miguel Machado.
Adrian Stockton top-scored with 88 as Mistley won by just 11 runs at Braintree. Replying to the visitors’ 208 for eight, Braintree were all out for 197, despite a last wicket stand of 33 between Daniel Garner (25no) and No.11 Robbie Spalding (22).
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