Copdock hold on to secure victory

Defeat after a thrilling finish against Copdock on Saturday meant their league quest is over, but 24 hours later they were able to ‘concentrate on the cup’ – and a well-deserved win over former finalists Rowledge put them in the quarter-finals of the Persimmon National Village Championship.

Luck was against Mistley on Saturday, as Copdock & OIs held on to secure a one-wicket win in Division One of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship.

But perhaps Dame Fortune smiled on the team on Sunday as they produced a good all-round performance to see off their Surrey visitors to keep alive their hopes of a place in the final at Lord’s.

They now face another tough test against Sussex team Rottingdean, but they have home advantage for the tie on July 24.

On Saturday they made a dreadful start as James East and Jed Cawkwell sent back the first three batsmen for only one run between them.

Kemsley Robb (29) and Graeme Butcher (50) led the revival, and Matt Bibby added 21 to push the final total up to 150. But the Copdock bowlers had taken the honours, with East (five for 37) being backed up by spinners Chris Swallow (two for 32) and Tom Jenkin (two for 16).

Copdock’s reply relied on several useful contributions. Openers Reuben Sharpe (15) and Jonny Rice (25) got them off to a decent start, then Cawkwell added 29.

But wickets fell regularly as Hugh Thomas watched from the other end. Kyran Young (three for 55), Bibby (two for 11), Michael Griggs (two for 18) and John Manning and Stuart Dove, with one wicket apiece, left Copdock nine wickets down and relying on last man Lewis Catlow (four not out) and Thomas (37 not out) to see them over the line for a one-wicket win.

Defeat left Mistley 50 points behind leaders Wivenhoe, who chalked up another maximum-point win at home to bottom team Abberton, winning by 126 runs.

Mildenhall remain the closest challengers after they beat third-placed Frinton by 83 runs. They slipped to 41 for four before Joe Reed anchored the innings with a fine 85. Steven Lankester scored a quickfire 55 and with late runs from Lennox Lwana and Andy Squire the innings closed on 222 for nine.

After James Holmes kept it tight with 11 overs for 13 runs, Lwana, with his first five-wicket haul for the club, and Reed sent the home team packing for 139.

Exning came unstuck at home to lowly Maldon, being skittled for 82 (Jack Riley five for 23, Gary Bannister three for 13). They made a pretty good attempt to defend that small total, with Darren Hayward taking three for 18, but Maldon secured their second win of the season by three wickets.

Byron Ovenstone’s 71 helped Coggeshall to 204 for eight, and Will Blackwell followed up with five for 47 to help bowl Ipswich out for 169 in reply.

Andy Northcote and Craig Rutterford both scored half-centuries in a Woolpit total of 227, and Haverhill’s reply ended just six runs short as Northcote claimed the final wicket to end with three for 49.

Easton moved up to second place in Division Two by bowling Elmstead Grasshoppers out for 94 to set up an eight-wicket win. Hadleigh lost ground as their match at Dunmow was abandoned, allowing Lakenheath to extend their lead at the top with victory over Braintree. Shane Leech saw the West Suffolk team to victory with 77 to help overhaul the visitors’ total of 161.

Wet weather seemed to swing the balance in favour of bowlers at the weekend, with a number of low scores and several tight finishes elsewhere.

Witham III suffered most, being bundled out for 25 by Tendring in Division Eight. At least they gained a point as the visitors lost two wickets before securing victory.

Neil Willis took the bowling honours with eight for 19 as Coggeshall III dismissed Harwich & Dovercourt II for 71. That was nearly enough to win, as Coggeshall lost eight wickets in reaching their target.

Six other teams were bowled out for less than 100, with three of them in Division Nine.

Copdock, Abberton II and Melton St Audry’s all crawled over the winning line to win by one wicket, while Woolpit held on to beat Haverhill by six runs.

Damian Cialini made the highest individual score of the weekend with an unbeaten 140 for Yoxford at St Margarets, while Clacton rattled up the largest team score and the biggest win with 303 for six to beat Wivenhoe by 196 runs in Division C on Sunday.

The rule change regarding rained off matches (six points plus any bonus points gained) seems to have encouraged matches to start in wet conditions, but the next problem is whether or not to stop. Two games were abandoned with just half-a-dozen overs left to be bowled and further play being decided by the agreement of the two captains – or lack of it.

Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship

Division One

Coggeshall 204 for 8 (B Ovenstone 71, C Lesiak 34, R Cross 20, A Stockton 20, A Gooding 3 for 50). *Ipswich 169 (C Bell 68, J Rusby 36, A Polley 20, W Blackwell 5 for 47). Coggeshall (20) bt Ipswich (7) by 35 runs.

Exning 82 (J Grove 23, J Riley 5 for 23, G Bannister 3 for 13). *Maldon 84 for 7 (J Ainscough 23, D Hayward 3 for 18). Maldon (20) bt Exning (3) by 3 wkts.

Woolpit 227 (A Northcote 56, C Rutterford 54, D Crame 39, D Large 31, R Singh 4 for 61). *Haverhill 221 (D Brown 36, B Moran 33, C Silverwood 32, A Phillips 29, S Youngs 27, S Webb 24, A Northcote 3 for 45, C Rutterford 3 for 61). Woolpit (20) bt Haverhill (10) by 6 runs.

Mildenhall 222 for 9 (J Reed 85). *Frinton 139. Mildenhall (20) bt Frinton (6) by 83 runs.

*Mistley 150 (G Butcher 50, K Robb 29, M Bibby 21, Jas East 5 for 37). Copdock & OIs 152 for 9 (H Thomas 37no, J Cawkwell 29, J Rice 25, K Young 3 for 55). Copdock (20) bt Mistley (7) by 1 wkt.

*Wivenhoe 259. Abberton 133. Wivenhoe (20) bt Abberton (7) by 126 runs.

Division Two

Ipswich & East Suffolk 178 (M Sproats 41, S Worne 38no, R Glassford 35, N Philpot 3 for 38, P Lloyd 3 for 83). *East Bergholt 182 for 6 (D Frame 47no, D Cameron 45, I Gedny 37, N Foster 29, J Barker 3 for 24). E Bergholt (20) bt IES (7) by 4 wkts.

Elmstead Grasshoppers 94 (J Elliott 25, W Mitchell 4 for 11, T Bosher 3 for 43). *Easton 100 for 2 (T Benham 40no, A Barker 38no). Easton (20) bt Elmstead (1) by 8 wkts.

Brightlingsea 173 for 9 (K Rodrigo 48 B Hardy 29, T Cracknell 24, L Facey 5 for 22). *Witham 175 for 2 (J Suett 90no, K Hawes 37, C Barton 36no). Witham (19) bt Brightlingsea (4) by 8 wkts.

*Woodbridge & OWs 232 for 8 (B Hamnett 83, E Parker 38, M Parker 29, B Foreman 25, I Reed 4 for 54). *Brockley 128 (B Jeffrey 25, I Reed 20no, A Oswald 4 for 26, M Parker 3 for 22). Woodbridge (20) bt Brockley (6) by 104 runs.

Braintree 161 (R Vickery 55, D Hale 22, S Hale 21, G Palmer 4 for 49. *Lakenheath 162 for 5 (S Leech 77, M Reeve 26, J Chalk 3 for 32) . Lakenheath (20) bt Braintree (5) by 5 wkts.

*Dunmow 136 for 9 (PM Reid 45no, C Barker 24, A Milnes 3 for 17, T Piddington 3 for 35). Hadleigh 46 for 4 (T Rix 30), match abandoned. Dunmow 10, Hadleigh 10.

Division Three

Felixstowe 118 (J Heathcote 57, M Taylor 5 for 47). *Mildenhall II 122 for 3 (A Trett 34no, R Clark 23). Mildenhall II (20) bt Felixstowe (2) by 7 wkts.

Clacton II 105 (M Fowler 34, G Barnard 23, J Dickie 4 for 18, T Madanayaka 3 for 33). *Stowmarket 106 for 6 (T Madanayaka 35no, M Gill 32, M Fowler 3 for 37). Stowmarket (20) bt Clacton II (4) by 4 wkts.

*Sudbury II 163 for 9 (W Shropshire 40, M Pears 29, C Walters 22, P Cooper 3 for 44). Halstead II 169 for 3 (S Steel 81no, P Cooper 57no, W Clark 22). Halstead II (19) bt Sudbury II (4) by 7 wkts.

Kelvedon & Feering 151 (J Baker 64, M Butler 4 for 29, L Edwards 3 for 34). *Coggeshall II 154 for 8 (A Robinson 53, A Ward 34, M Hart 20). E Smith 3 for 34, T Peperell 3 for 41). Halstead II (20) bt Halstead II (7) by 2 wkts.

*Little Bardfield Village 205 for 9 (D Hymas 61, M Welby 44, E Hitchcock 32, P Stone 26, I Catley 4 for 59). Copford 142 for 7 (C Reid 34, K Sargeant 32no, M Graham 3 for 18), match abandoned after 40 overs. Lt Bardfield 14, Copford 12.

*Bury St Edmunds II 134 (J Lofts 60, B Bellward 24, D Stannard 3 for 13, P Marston 3 for 52). Worlington 136 for 5 (J Sands 50, C Estlea 42no, R Vivek 3 for 30). Worlington (20) bt Bury II (4) by 5 wkts.

Division Four

Ipswich II 215 for 6 (S Porter 86, J Rowett 50, S Gibson 32). *Ipswich & East Suffolk II 157 for 5 (K Howlett 94no, S Gayfer 37no), match abandoned after 40.1 overs. IES II 12, Ipswich II 13.

Long Melford 271 for 9 (B Byford 66, N Wright 60, S Whitehart 53, L Phillips 26, T Parker 6 for 55). *Woolpit II 205 for 8 (J Bradwell 67, A Bullett 33, D Thompson 28, A Stewart 24, M Holt 5 for 18). Long Melford (19) bt Woolpit II (9) by 66 runs.

Needham Market 168 (J Wade 91, O Lawson 3 for 37). *Exning II 171 for 4 (O Lawson 56no, N Lomas 46no, S Readman 32, S Allen 28). Exning II (20) bt Needham Market (5) by 6 wkts.

Wivenhoe II 177 for 7 (J Wiseman 89no, A Green 34, D Hinsley 3 for 56). *Hadleigh II 178 for 1 (N Abdul 68, R Checketts 63no, M Howe 40no). Hadleigh II (18) bt Wivenhoe II (4) by 9 wkts.

*St Margarets 206 for 8 (C Mutton 102no, J Silburn 30, D Payne 3 for 41). Yoxford 207 for 4 (D Cialini 140no, A Cook 28no). Yoxford (19) bt St Margarets (7) by 6 wkts.

Mistley II 197 for 6 (D Goff 75, J Scott 43, M Churchill 27no). *Copdock & OIs II 112 (J Green 20, R Mills 4 for 40, P Palmer 3 for 13, D Marks 3 for 24). Mistley II (20) bt Copdock II (4) by 85 runs.

Division Five

Bury St Edmunds III 221 (P Thearle 109, S Cordell 27, J Berry 24, C Scott 4 for 62). *Abberton II 224 for 9 (C Scott 44no, I Collett 40, M Abrey 33, T Pike 25, S Cordell 4 for 57). Abberton II (20) bt Bury III (9) by 1 wkt.

Maldon II 146 (J Matthews 45, A Barnes 20, R Khaira 4 for 22, I Evans 3 for 44). *Boxted 147 for 3 (R Khaira 47no, I Evans 40, E Whybrow 23). Boxted (20) bt Maldon II (3) by 7 wkts.

Mildenhall III 225 for 7 (J Taylor 63, J Beaumont 57, J Giffin 26, L Handy 22, J Smith 4 for 49). Earls Colne 157 (S Wilsher 66, J Willey 30, J Beaumont 4 for 53, L Chipchase 4 for 62). Mildenhall III (20) bt Earls Colne (6) by 68 runs.

*Brightlingsea II 94. Witham II 95 for 2. Witham (20) bt Brightlingsea II (1) by 8 wkts.

*Harwich & Dovercourt 130. Great Bromley 133 for 1. Gt Bromley (20) bt Harwich (2) by 9 wkts.

*Kelvedon & Feering II 151 for 9 (M Wilde 29, D Schofield 24, N Brice 22, S Plant 4 for 34, J Baker 3 for 44). Frinton II 152 for 3 (J Hall 80, P Williams 27). Frinton II (19) bt Kelvedon II (4) by 7 wkts.

Division Six

Kesgrave 245 for 9 (D Gallant 92, M Ginn 52, R Collard 32, M Tracey 4 for 57, M Seagrove 4 for 67). *Copford II 158 (P Gould 53, J Williams 23, B Colver 4 for 27). Kesgrave (20) bt Copford II (7) by 87 runs.

Haverhill II 180 for 9 (L Savage 57, D Pass 27, S Fox 26, M Burle 4 for 55). *Elmstead Grasshoppers II 109 (F Eadie 24, J Woodley 6 for 35). Haverhill II (20) bt Elmstead II (5) by 71 runs.

Tuddenham 191 for 8 (A Singleton 58, D Cross 49, A Bromley 20, T Harris 20). *Felixstowe Corinthians 192 for 5 (C Monteith 93, J Gibbs 53no). Felixstowe Corinthians (19) bt Tuddenham (6) by 5 wkts.

Ipswich III 151 (G Denny 45, M Lloyd 216, J Greig 23, J Lord 5 for 38). *Melton St Audry’s 152 for 9 (J Harvey 31, J Lord 29, S Dineen 23, M Utting 21, P Culley 4 for 39). Melton (20) bt Ipswich III (7) by 1 wkt.

*Braintree II 246 for 4. Nacton 57 for 2, match abandoned. Braintree 12, Nacton 8.

Division Seven

*Felixstowe II 164 (S Rivers 50, M Parker 29, T Gordon 4 for 31, G Harihara 3 for 50). St Margarets II 129 (L Smith 28, L Fitch 23, R Sharma 22, H Elliston 3 for 16). Felixstowe II (20) bt St Margarets II (7) by 35 runs.

*Long Melford II 231 for 8 (R Black 49, N Henbury 46no, M Underwood 38, B Wright 38, M Foster 3 for 61). Maldon III 183 (M Foster 47, S Bulger 35, M Southwell 29, R Bowyer 26, C Castle 3 for 39). Long Melford II (20) bt Maldon III (8) by 48 runs.

Stowmarket II 194 for 7 (J Hawkins 53no, R Baxter 45, C Newman 29, D Penney 22, J Rawcliffe 4 for 54). *Mildenhall IV 184 (A Lack 67, J Rawcliffe 42, L Reynolds 30, M Thurston 20no, D Penney 3 for 23, D Aldous 3 for 56). Stowmarket II (20) bt Mildenhall IV (7) by 10 runs.

*Sudbury III 238. Halstead III 184 for 7. Sudbury III (18) bt Halstead III (9) by 54 runs.

Division Eight

St Osyth 248 for 6 (C Vithanage 90, J Handscombe 68, J Bean 42, S Fraser 24). *Kelvedon & Feering III 191 for 9 (M Warner 38, G Bellamy 32, C Hards 29, S Fraser 4 for 62). St Osyth (19) bt Kelvedon III (7) by 57 runs.

Harwich & Dovercourt II 71 (S Fox 35, N Willis 8 for 19). *Coggeshall III 72 for 8 (S Fox 3 for 41). Coggeshall III (20) bt Harwich II (4) by 2 wkts.

*Witham III 25. Tendring 26 for 2. Tendring (20) bt Witham III (1) by 8 wkts.

Division Nine

*Bury St Edmunds IV 122 (Raj 70, C Thurlow 4 for 15, N Jenkins 3 for 24). Woodbridge & OWs II 126 for 3 (A Barham 36no, W Nicholls 36, D Grimes 20no). Woodbridge II (20) bt Bury IV (2) by 7 wkts.

Braintree III 91 (L Theys 35, S Isaac 25, D Jonsson 4 for 34, S Dunnett 3 for 17). *Nowton 92 for 1 (H Desch 31no, M Ainsley 24no, S Danson 22). Nowton (20) bt Braintree III (0) by 9 wkts.

*West Mersea (20) received a walk-over from Sudbourne Hall (0).

Elveden 88 (S Flack 27, C Woollard 5 for 13, A Watson 4 for 37). *Worlington II 90 for 3 (M Bacon 47no, S Smith 20no, S Flack 3 for 35). Worlington II (20) bt Elveden (1) by 7 wkts.

*West Bergholt 74. Eight Ash Green 75 for 2. EAG (20) bt West Bergholt (1) by 8 wkts.

Division C

*Clacton 303 for 6. Wivenhoe 107. Clacton (20) bt Wivenhoe (4) by 196 runs.

Coggeshall 269 for 7. *Copdock & OIs 128 for 3, match abandoned. Copdock 11, Coggeshall 12.

*Kelvedon & Feering 215 for 7. Brightlingsea 156. Kelvedon (20) bt Brightlingsea (6) by 59 runs.

Ladies’ Challenge

Easton (20) received a walk-over from Cambridge NCI (0) and Woolpit (0) conceded to Ipswich (20).

Battisford v Woodbridge & OWs, no result received.

Ladies’ T20

Felixstowe 45. *Mistley 49 for 0. Mistley (20) bt Felixstowe (0) by 10 wkts.

* denotes home team