Lakenheath within sight of promotion

Hadleigh are their most realistic challengers for the Division Two crown after they saw off Elmstead Grasshoppers as the top four in the table clashed on Saturday.

Lakenheath now hold an imposing 50-point lead over Elmstead, who are third, with Easton a further seven points adrift.

Clearly when Lakenheath made the trip from the far west of the county to take on their East Suffolk rivals they knew a defeat would open the title race right up. When both openers, Greg Palmer and Paul Pallant, were out with just 18 on the board there may have been a few worries.

Shane Leech (40) kept the scoreboard ticking over but wickets continued to fall. Mike Reeve weighed in with an important 48 and Adam Horrex (33) helped him add 53 for the fifth wicket, the biggest partnership of the innings.Horrex saw the total past 150 before he was eighth out.

Even so, it was the Easton players who would have enjoyed their tea more as they contemplated replying to 155 for eight, with three wickets for Mark Fernley and two each for Jez Brotherton and Wayne Mitchell.

Easton’s reply was similar to the Lakenheath innings, slipping to 62 for four (the visitors were 64 for four).

Tom Benham had scored 22 fairly quickly, while Simon Haliday reached the same total in more sedate fashion.

Then Greg Palmer struck, dismissing Halliday and three wickets fell in the 90s. Last pair Wayne Mitchell (16) and Tom Bosher (10 not out) kept Easton hopes alive, but Palmer claimed the final wicket to finish with six for 31 as the home innings closed at 132.

At Hadleigh a fine all-round display by Murray Spence secured victory over Elmstead. He top-scored with 90 out of a total of 234 for six, Josh Davey adding 64. He then picked up five for 51 as the visitors were dismissed for 159, Jon Butcher scoring 50.

Bottom team Brockley revived their hopes of avoiding the drop as they recorded their second win of the season at home to Braintree. Opener Stuart Fisher scored 70, but it was Patrick Kearney’s 92, with five sixes and five fours, that pushed the total up to a winning 220 for five. Dean Sykes and Isaac Reed both claimed three wickets as Braintree were dismissed for 172.

In Division One Mildenhall and Wivenhoe both won, but third-placed Frinton went down by one wicket at home to Copdock & OIs and are now probably out of the title race.

Mildenhall’s spinners did a good job as Woolpit slipped from 127 for two to 134 for seven on their way to a below par 176. Tom Westley and Ben Shepperson both picked up three wickets.

But Will Parker removed Joe Reed and Shepperson for ducks in the first over, and Mildenhall also looked vulnerable at 136 for six, but skipper Steve Lankester (28) and Karl Holmes (21 not out) saw them to a three-wicket win.

Tom Durrell grabbed five for 32 as Coggeshall were bowled out for 152 (Adrian Stockton 43) and Billy Godleman (72) and Nathan Rabnott (45 not out) carried Wivenhoe to a seven-wicket win.

Frinton and Mistley both ended their Cricket Weeks with prestigious matches against the MCC on Friday – and both came down to earth with defeats on Saturday. While Frinton just failed to defend their total of 129 against Copdock, who got home by one wicket, Mistley struggled to 101 for eight in 50 overs and lost to Maldon by eight wickets.

Haverhill held on for an 18-run win over Ipswich with Adam Dellar’s 60 the backbone of their total of 209 for seven.

In the Ladies’ Challenge Ipswich scored a big win over Cambridge NCI, with Mandy Ford scoring 90 and Andrea McNally carrying her bat for 59 out of a total of 196 for three. Rachel Woodward’s three for three hurried the hosts out for 45. Unbeaten Ipswich remain on course for their sixth ladies’ crown.

Dan Gibson snapped up the first nine wickets to fall for Tendring against Easton II on Saturday, but was denied a memorable 10-wicket haul as team-mate Will Spain returned to the attack and claimed the last wicket.

Gibson was left with the excellent figures of nine for 43 from his 11 overs, but must have regretted the return of opening bowler Spain, who ended a last-wicket stand between Will Fisk (30 not out) and James Boggis (five) when he had Boggis caught by Jack Bowden.

Gibson had not batted as Tendring posted 156 for seven, and only came on as the first change bowler as Will Thomas (36) and Ed Barker (6) started the Easton II reply.

He then worked his way through the entire team, until Spain’s return.

Witham had the highest total and the best individual score (282 for four, Kaan Hawes 113) on the way to the biggest win of the weekend (164 runs) in the Division Two match against East Bergholt.

The lowest total, for the second week running, was claimed by Melton St Audry’s when they were bowled out for 69 by Felixstowe Corinthians. At least this week they earned a point as Corinthians lost two wickets on their way to victory.

Sudbourne Hall scraped home by three runs at Elveden in Division Nine, and Copdock & OIs won by one wicket at Frinton in Division One.

On the other side of the coin there were nine-wicket wins for Boxted and Coggeshall III.

Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship

Division One

*Abberton 158 (R Savill 56, J Ward 40, S Swinn 21, C Lomas 4 for 62, J Grove 3 for 36). Exning 160 for 2 (L Bryant 55no, O Fowlston 44, T Catley 32). Exning (20pts) bt Abberton (4) by 8 wkts.

*Frinton 129 (M Jones 37, C Herath 21, T Stubbs 20, Jas East 5 for 49, John East 4 for 26). Copdock & OIs 130 for 9 (Jas East 46no, R Sharpe 25, T Laws 4 for 29, T Morton 4 for 40). Copdock (20) bt Frinton (6) by 1 wkt.

*Haverhill 209 for 7 (A Dellar 60, L Youngs 42, S Powell 32, S Webb 27, D Hondo 4 for 41). Ipswich 191 for 9 (J Rowett 43, S Webb-Snowling 34, D Hondo 28, J Alder 26, S Connelly 24no). Haverhill (19) bt Ipswich (7) by 18 runs.

Mistley 101 for 8 (J Allday 41no, P Garwood 23). *Maldon 103 for 2 (L Fleming 44, I Elliiott 25, C Harris 23). Maldon (19) bt Mistley (2) by 8 wkts.

Woolpit 176 (J Crame 45, A Northcote 32, C Rutterford 25, T Whiteman 22, B Shepperson 3 for 18, T Westley 3 for 41). *Mildenhall 177 for 7 (C Baugh 49, A Squire 47, S Lankester 28, J Holmes 21no, W Parker 5 for 59). Mildenhall (20) bt Woolpit (7) by 3 wkts.

Coggeshall 152 (A Stockton 43, B Ovenstone 33, T Durrell 5 for 32). *Wivenhoe 154 for 3 (B Godleman 72, N Rabnott 45no). Wivenhoe (20) bt Coggeshall (4)by 7 wkts.

Division Two

*Brockley 220 for 5 (P Kearney 92, S Fisher 73, P Webb 25no, B Stephens 3 for 54). Braintree 172 (R Vickery 67, B Golds 34, D Chalk 27, D Sykes 3 for 48, I Reed 3 for 53). Brockley (20) bt Braintree (5) by 48 runs.

*Dunmow 210 for 8. Ipswich & East Suffolk 162. Dunmow (20) bt IES (7) by 48 runs.

Lakenheath 155 for 8 (M Reeve 48, S Leech 40, A Horrex 33, M Fernley 3 for 20). *Easton 132 (S Halliday 22, T Benham 22, G Palmer 6 for 31). Lakenheath (20) bt Easton (6) by 23 runs.

*Hadleigh 234 for 6 (M Spence 90no, J Davey 64, T Rix 21, P Gates 4 for 65). Elmstead Grasshoppers 159 (J Butcher 50, M Perrin 33, M Spence 5 for 51). Hadleigh (20) bt Elmstead (6) by 75 runs.

*Witham 282 for 4 (K Hawes 113, R Green 103, C Barton 42). East Bergholt 118 (D Last 30, D Cameron 27, P Lloyd 23). Witham (20) bt East Bergholt (3) by 164 runs.

*Woodbridge & OWs 230 for 7 (M Parker 83, E Parker 72, I Akers 24, R Dowman 3 for 59). Brightlingsea 174 (T Cracknell 40, S Baker 35, C Holyman 27, A Oswald 4 for 30, E Parker 4 for 43). Woodbridge (20) bt Brightlingsea (6) by 56 runs.

Division Three

Worlington 277 for 9 (T Osborn 84, J Watson 73, C Estlea 38, G Ford 28, S Blackwell 3 for 90). *Coggeshall II 170 for 9 (S Blackwell 52, M Hart 42no, J Neale 36, J Watson 3 for 5, P Marston 3 for 40). Worlington (19) bt Coggeshall II (6) by 107 runs.

*Copford 228 for 5 (C Reid 104no, I Catley 35, G Northover 34no). Clacton II 171 (M Asghar 70, G Kirk 21no, Asif 20, I Catley 3 for 22). Copford (20) bt Clacton II (5) by 57 runs.

*Kelvedon & Feering 201 for 9 (A Parker 59, S Warner 33, P Ahearn 22, L Scott 20, P Cooper 3 for 42, C Roper 3 for 62). Halstead II 153 (P Cooper 38, J Rose 24, G Raviendran 20, S Steel 20, E Smith 5 for 39, O Coe 3 for 40). Kelvedon (20) bt Halstead II (7) by 48 runs.

*Little Bardfield Village 278 for 5 (D Hymas 106no, D Bass 105). Felixstowe 208 (J Lander 92, M Smith 27, T Graham 3 for 33, P Gray 3 for 35). Lt Bardfield (19) bt Felixstowe (7) by 70 runs.

Bury St Edmunds II 223 for 5 (P Godden 60, H Rynsard-Perry 58, J McKinney 37, J Lofts 35). *Stowmarket 184 for 9 (T Madanayaka 62, C Sirimanne 35, D Watling 30). Bury II (19) bt Stowmarket(6) by 39 runs.

*Sudbury II 164 (W Shropshire 44, C Walters 35, P Siegert 27, M Wooderson 21, J Beaumont 4 for 11, J Allen 3 for 44). Mildenhall II 166 for 7 (J Moore 58no, R Clark 39, S Grinling 28, M Wooderson 4 for 37). Mildenhall II (20) bt Sudbury II (6) by 3 wkts.

Division Four

*Copdock & OIs II 180 for 6 (K Banham 102no, A Baker 37, N Howlett 4 for 60). St Margarets 135 (P Allen 51, R White 26, J Green 3 for 19). Copdock II (20) bt St Margarets (5) by 45 runs.

Yoxford 227 for 9 (S Lincoln 52, D Cialini 48, C Mears 27, R Marston 23, D Baigent 5 for 36). *Exning II 231 for 4 (S Readman 106no, D Baigent 62). Exning II (19) bt Yoxford (7) by 6 wkts.

*Ipswich II 183 for 6 (S Gibson 50, R Gibson 32, M Lloyd 28, K Wright 25). Needham Market 146 for 9 (S Ward 28no, J Wade 27, P Culley 4 for 29 inc. hat-trick, K Wright 3 for 46). Ipswich II (19) bt Needham Market (5) by 37 runs.

Wivenhoe II 166 for 8 (P Wilson 31, P Tonkinson 27, L Bodaragama 26, P Rabone 4 for 21, N Pryke 3 for 48). *Ipswich & ES II 168 for 8 (K Howlett 76, A Green 3 for 39, P Tonkinson 3 for 67). IES II (19) bt Wivenhoe II (7) by 2 wkts.

*Mistley II 193 (D Goff 80, S Everett 26, H Parkes 23, H Walters 4 for 41, J French 4 for 58). Long Melford 195 for 7 (H Walters 80, S Hale 52, A Skeggs 22no, L Knights 5 for 43). L Melford (20) bt Mistley II (7) by 3 wkts.

*Woolpit II 235 for 6 (J Bradwell 65, A Bullett 63, D Thompson 32, C Daniel 27, R Checketts 3 for 37). Hadleigh II 217 for 8 (R Smyth 101, I Thoroughgood 49). Woolpit II (19) bt Hadleigh II (8) by 18 runs.

Division Five

Kelvedon & Feering II 198 for 6 (N Brice 48, M Harvey 40no, W Shortridge 32, D Schofield 24). *Boxted 199 for 1 (R Pickford 97, R Sexton 84no). Boxted (18) bt Kelvedon II (4) by 9 wkts.

Abberton II 190 for 9. *Brightlingsea II 147. Abberton II (20) bt Brightlingsea II (6) by 43 runs.

*Earls Colne 208 for 9 (R Balls 61no, J Durkin 37, N Oakley 22, T Curry 3 for 19). Bury St Edmunds III 156 (J Nicoll 37, A Kizis 29, J Durkin 3 for 27, J Smith 3 for 37). Earls Colne (20) bt Bury III (7) by 52 runs.

Witham II 106 (C Spence 51, Y Willemse 22, R Wareing 6 for 28). *Great Bromley 112 for 3 (L Perrin 42no, M Wareing 32). Gt Bromley (20) bt Witham II (2) by 7 wkts.

*Harwich & Dovercourt 103 (S Good 26, M Lucas 4 for 21, N Coles 3 for 30). Frinton II 109 for 7 (R Stockdale 28, R Everson 24no, N Cowley 4 for 36). Frinton II (20) bt Harwich (4) by 3 wkts.

*Mildenhall III 208 for 8 (J Taylor 61, L Handy 47, B Tippett 22no, S Hunt 22 ret, R Walpole 3 for 42). Maldon II 209 for 4 (A Barnes 100, J Ellis 42, J Matthews 26). Maldon II (19) bt Mildenhall III (7) by 6 wkts.

Division Six

*Braintree II 136 (M Fullgrabe 41no, A Ledgerton 23, S Hale 20, J Bonner 4 for 16, A Gale 3 for 46). Kesgrave 75 (L Theys 3 for 8, S Hale 3 for 16). Braintree II (20) bt Kesgrave (5) by 61 runs.

Copford II 91 (P Gould 27, J Williams 27, C Green 3 for 31). *Elmstead Grasshoppers II 92 for 3 (F Eadie 27, J Sheekey 25, A Stubbins 23no). Elmstead (20) bt Copford II (1) by 7 wkts.

Melton St Audry’s 69 (J Harvey 27, N Radford 5 for 38, J Jacobs 3 for 30). Felixstowe Corinthians 71 for 2 (C Monteith 31no). Felixstowe Corinthians (20) bt Melton St Audry’s (1) by 8 wkts.

Ipswich III 119 (B Manning 25). *Nacton 120 for 2 (J Warner 63no, J Fincham 38). Nacton (20) bt Ipswich III (2) by 8 wkts.

*Tuddenham 228 for 4 (M Smith 83, K Pryke 48no, D Cross 46no, D Yadav 21). Haverhill II 220 (L Savage 43, S Hartshorn 36, P Jones 30, B Wilkins 23, C Carter 4 for 53, S Singh 3 for 47). Tuddenham (20) bt Haverhill II (7) by 8 runs.

Division Seven

*East Bergholt II (0) conceded to Stowmarket II (20).

*Felixstowe II 201 for 6 (I Connell 59, B Parker 41, D Bennett 24, M Collins 23no). Maldon III 204 for 1 (M Smith 100no, S Gozzett 80no). Maldon III (18) bt Felixstowe II (5) by 9 wkts.

Mildenhall IV 201 for 8 (J Francis 53, N Clark 29, T Ahmed 27, D Martin 3 for 51). *Ipswich IV 150 (P Mobbs 38, B Connelly 21, M Kingdon 4 for 36, M Thurston 3 for 29). Mildenhall IV (20) bt Ipswich IV (7) by 51 runs.

Sudbury III 187 (C Cook 87, H Wright 47, I Whitehart 5 for 41). *Long Melford II 191 for 7 (L Phillips 72, M Hoadley 26, B Wright 24, M Griffiths 4 for 31). Long Melford II (20) bt Sudbury III (7) by 3 wkts.

*St Margarets II 170 for 8. Halstead III 171 for 4. Halstead III (19) bt St Margarets II (5) by 6 wkts.

Division Eight

*DBSL 104 (M Clemence 22, A Egg 4 for 30, C Gibson 3 for 14). Coggeshall III 106 for 1 (D Gibson 64no, M Blackwell 20no). Coggeshall III (20) bt DBSL (1) by 9 wkts.

*Kelvedon & Feering III 196 (N Cocks 57, F Warner 26, S Bonvini 22, S Stobbs 21, P Mingay 4 for 55, P Jackson 3 for 17). Brockley II 167 for 8 (J Jones 90, M Blackledge 32, T Blackledge 20, S Bonvini 4 for 59). Kelvedon (19) bt Brockley II (8) by 29 runs.

*St Osyth 184 for 5 (S Fraser 96no, N Shuttleworth 31, E Havers 3 for 32). Eye & District 136 (P Shelley 46, D Whiting 28, C Whiting 27, S Fraser 5 for 38). St Osyth (20) bt Eye (4) by 48 runs.

*Tendring 156 for 7 (J Bickers 80). Easton II 113 (W Thomas 36, W Fisk 30no, D Gibson 9 for 43). Tendring (20) bt Easton II (4) by 43 runs.

Harwich & Dovercourt II 174 for 9. *Witham III 162. Harwich II (20) bt Witham III (7) by 12 runs.

Division Nine

*Bury St Edmunds IV 195 (A Urquart 55, S Aldous 39, T Coe 27, M Wilkin 4 for 42, R Provan 4 for 54). West Mersea 167 (L Conway 59, J Tilsley 25, D Fahie 21, F Stennett 3 for 42). Bury IV (20) bt West Mersea (8) by 28 runs.

*Eight Ash Green 200 for 8 (K Steel 48, W Shearman 38, T Aston 33, M Norris 26no, K Howes 3 for 47, A Ward 3 for 62). Nowton 129 (L Kretzmann 36, K Steel 3 for 14, W Shearman 3 for 32). Eight Ash Green (20) bt Nowton (6) by 71 runs.

Sudbourne Hall 127. *Elveden 124 for 9. Sudbourne Hall (19) bt Elveden (6) by 3 runs.

*Woodbridge & OWs II 272 for 7 (J Youngs 84, M Whitlock 60no, G Machan 36, N Jenkins 33no, T Dobree 28, C Allister 4 for 74). West Bergholt 139 (D Wheeler 38, I Jeeva 24, A Smith 7 for 32). Woodbridge II (20) bt West Bergholt (5) by 133 runs.

Division C

Coggeshall 197 for 6 (O Bond 60, R Parker 41, N Durkin 41, K Wright 3 for 40). *Ipswich 183 (L Mair 68, J Rowett 35, T Pickles 4 for 46). Coggeshall (20) bt Ipswich (7) by 14 runs.

Clacton 231 for 6 (B Pitts 64, P Reynolds 47, I Vine 40, J Couchman 30, W Shortridge 3 for 47). *Kelvedon & Feering 104 for 9 (P Lightbown 32, W Surrall 4 for 39, A Young 3 for 20). Clacton (19) bt Kelvedon (4) by 125 runs.

*Wivenhoe 125 for 5 off 31 overs (F Murtaza 59, L Bodaragama 25) v Copdock & OIs, match abandoned (8pts each).

Division C Cup

Ipswich 178 for 8 (B Connelly 78, S Godward 34, J Girling 6 for 56). Coggeshall 179 for 3 (C Bragg 60 ret, R Parker 45, I Hart 27no.). Coggeshall (2) bt Ipswich (0) by 7 wkts.

Ladies’ Challenge

Ipswich 196 for 3 (A Ford 90, A McNally 59no). *Cambridge NCI 55 (R Woodward 3 for 3). Ipswich (20) bt Cambridge NCI (0) by 141 runs.

Woolpit 77 (C Evans 21no, A Lowe 3 for 9). *Woodbridge & OWs 78 for 3. Woodbridge (20) bt Woolpit (1) by 7 wkts.

* denotes home team