Worlington go top as Estlea leads their victory charge

Woolpit's Oliver Whiteman in action. He made 86 as Woolpit beat Witham Photo: PHIL MORLEY

Last week’s leaders Witham are down to fourth after a weekend that saw wins for Worlington, Halstead and Woolpit, who all leapfrogged above the Essex side.

Woolpit’s victory over Witham was a bit more cut and dried than last time out when they beat Wivenhoe in an exciting finish.

Winning the toss on their home track, Witham decided to bat and although wicket-keeper James Suett made a breezy 54 that included 11 fours, when he was third man out with the score on 98, it was left to just James Smith (38) to trouble the Woolpit bowling attack.

However, Tom Whiteman’s 3-19 kept Witham on the back foot and their 167 all out never looked enough.

So it proved, with Oliver Whiteman (86) seeing Woolpit home by seven wickets.

But it was Worlington who shot to the top of the table.

They produced an impressive and destructive performance against Wivenhoe, rattling up 261 for six in their 50 overs, before skittling out their Essex opponents for just 119 in 33 overs.

Craig Estlea, with 72, was the top scorer for Worlington, but they were solid throughout and when Charlie Tunstall ripped through five of the top seven in the Wivenhoe batting order, finishing with figures of five for 26, there was only ever going to be one winner.

Halstead are up to second.

In their Essex derby at the seaside with Frinton-on-Sea, Halstead won by six wickets, comfortably chasing down Frinton’s 162 for nine.

Skipper Sam Brynes made 66 for the home team and although, when bowling, Brynes took two early wickets to leave Halstead on 27-3, it was visiting skipper Joshua Wells (76 not out) who steadied the ship to see Halstead home.

Coggeshall leapfrogged above Ipswich in the table after a four-wicket win on their home track.

Batting first Ipswich’s Joe Rusby (55) led the scorecharts for the Suffolk visitors, but his support was sporadic and 177 in 50 overs always looked obtainable for Coggeshall.

And so it proved, with George Hanham (54) guiding them home by four wickets.

A solid batting performance from Hadleigh at Friars Road saw them pick up just their second win of the campaign, with a 41-run victory over Mistley.

A score of 229-7 in their 50 overs was competitive for Hadleigh

However when Daniel Goff and Stuart Baker put on 97 for the first wicket for the visitors, it was very much game on. But Thomas Piddington’s four for 27 halted their progress as Hadleigh ran out victors.

In a 60-over match at Vicarage Meadow, Elmstead just failed to chase down Maldon’s 193 for 5, falling 20 runs short, despite Ryan Vickery’s brilliant 76 that included five sixes.

Haverhill and Braintree continue to lead the way in Division Two.

Both teams enjoyed relatively comfortable victories at the weekend, Braintree’s Daniel Chalk scoring a century as the St Peter’s Road side gained victory in the top-of-the-table clash with Lakenheath.

Braintree won by 37 runs and moved up to second in the table.

Haverhill went into the weekend as leaders and kept it that way with a big win over Clacton.

Three of their top four in the batting order made half centuries as the leaders ran out comfortable enough 80-run victors.

Sudbury II moved up a place in the table after victory over East Bergholt.

Ben Hyett 4-44 and Andy Simmons 4-31 ripping through the Bergholt innings as they made just 136.

Sudbury won by five wickets.

At the battle at the bottom, Copdock and Old Ipswichian II were beaten by IES by four wickets, despite Karl Storey’s 98 not out for Copdock.

Walsham skittled out poor Easton for just 86 as they remain top of Division Three, while Stowmarket beat Elmstead II by 63 runs to continue to head Division Four – Dale Watling making 109 in Stowmarket’s innings.