BILLY Godleman struck an undefeated 121 as Essex 2nd XI defeated Suffolk by 25 runs in a 50-over friendly at Billericay CC yesterday.

Godleman and former Essex skipper Mark Pettini (77) put on 160 in 35 overs before three wickets fell in the space of five overs.

Pettini, whose 111-ball knock was laced with eight fours and a six, was caught by Tom Huggins, before Matt Walker fell seven runs later in the 38th over.

Michael Comber was run out as Justin Bishop returned the ball to wicketkeeper Chris Warn in the next over before Godleman, who hit ten fours and five sixes off 141 deliveries, added 103 in the final 11 overs with Tim Phillips, whose 48 came off 38 balls.

Colchester & East Essex bowler Ben Stephens, who was making his debut for Suffolk, bowled a tidy opening spell of 6-3-17-0, but suffered at the hands of Godleman and Phillips when he returned to the attack.

A second-wicket stand of 107 between Ben France and Martyn Cull put Suffolk in a good position at the half-way stage of their reply, before the innings fell away.

France made 71 from 102 balls with nine fours and Cull 59 (five fours) off 84 deliveries, before France fell in the 32nd over with the score on 145.

Scott Harvey, a member of last year’s Development XI, was called up for his debut in place of Sasha Ward, who injured an ankle the previous day. Harvey made eight batting at number four before being stumped by Ben Foakes, who also claimed three catches behind the stumps.

Chris Warn weighed in with 46 from 37 balls (five fours and one six) but lacked support as Chris Swallow and Simon Rees fell in consecutive deliveries.

Phil Edwards, on his return to the Suffolk side after being released by Kent, avoided the hat-trick but fell to the final delivery of the 50th over, bowled by Michael Comber, as Essex wrapped up a 25-run success.

Scoreboard

Essex II: M Pettini c Huggins b Finch 77, B Godleman not out 121, M Walker c Finch b Swallow 2, M Comber run out 1, T Phillips not out 48. Extras 23. Total (for 3 wkts, off 50 overs) 272.

Did not bat: B Foakes, K Toor, J Carpenter, C Wright, M Chambers, T Mills.

Fall: 1-160, 2-167, 3-169.

Bowling: Edwards 7-0-27-0; Stephens 8-3-48-0; Rees 7-0-62-0; France 4-1-14-0; Swallow 10-0-30-1; Finch 10-0-53-1; Huggins 4-0-33-0.

Suffolk: T Huggins c Foakes b Chambers 20, B France c Foakes b Phillips 71, M Cull c Godleman b Carpenter 59, S Harvey st Foakes b Phillips 8, C Warn c Pettini b Wright 46, J Bishop lbw b Carpenter 11, C Swallow c Toor b Wright 2, S Rees c Foakes b Wright 0, P Edwards b Comber 9, J Finch not out 3. Extras 18. Total (for 9 wkts, off 50 overs) 247.

Did not bat: B Stephens.

Fall: 1-38, 2-145, 3-167, 4-179, 5-204, 6-214, 7-237, 8-247.

Bowling: Wright 9-0-53-3; Chambers 9-0-42-1; Comber 9-0-38-1; Mills 4-1-24-0; Phillips 10-0-43-2; Carpenter 10-0-40-2.