League set for final-week decider

Mildenhall travelled to Maldon, whipped the home team out for 59 and knocked off the runs in 9.2 overs.

But despite their quickfire maximum-point win they remain one point behind leaders Copdock & OIs, who had a much shorter trip to Clay Hall where they were in simlarly destructive mood: Ipswich were all out for 69 and it took Copdock just 8.5 overs to reach their target.

At Maldon Mildenhall opening bowlers Lennox Lwana (three for 11) and AJ Warraich (two for 25) took out the top order and then James Holmes (three for seven) and Steve Lankester (two for 13) made light work of the tail order.

Ben Shepperson’s speedy 37 soon settled the run chase, although he was one of two batsmen to be dismissed.

At Ipswich Tom Jenkin snapped up four for 26 to take his tally for the season to 35 at 13.23, while James East collected four for 31. Adrian Nel then rushed to an unbeaten half-century as he and Archie Gravell completed a 10-wicket win.

So the title, and promotion to the East Anglian Premier League, will be decided in the final round of fixtures next week when Copdock travel to Coggeshall and Mildenhall entertain Wivenhoe at Wamil Way.

Mobile phone calls between the two grounds will be busy and all involved will hope the weather does not intervene.

Wivenhoe’s challenge finally ended as they lost to Frinton, with skipper Will Morgan admitting: “We didn’t bowl as well as we can and our fielding was poor. Frinton fully deserved to win.

“But to finish as the top Essex team is a great achievement with our young side and we’ve got to be happy with what has been a fantastic effort.”

He hopes Nathan Rabnott will be able to return next summer. “He has been the best overseas player we’ve ever had, on and off the field.”

In Division Two Danny Reynolds grabbed nine for 56 as Lakenheath bowled out Elmstead Grasshoppers for 101 on their way to a six-wicket win to secure the title. The main interest next week will be in relegation issues, with four teams separated by just two points. East Bergholt revived their chances of survival with an eight-wicket win at Braintree while fellow strugglers Woodbridge, Brightlingsea and Brockley were all losing.

Worlington hammered Mildenhall II to win the crown in Division Three, with Craig Estlea taking four for 60 as the home team were restricted to 187 for nine and then Tom Osborn carried his bat for 130 not out to set up an emphatic nine-wicket win.

Kelvedon & Feering II set a host of records in their huge win over Bury St Edmunds III in Division Five on Saturday.

Will Shortridge led the way with his unbeaten 213, setting a new high for the division by surpassing Eddie Green’s 205 for Achilles in 2000.

His unbroken third-wicket partnership of 346 with Mal Wilde is the highest on record in the championship, bettering the unbroken opening stand of 339 set by Sudbury in 1986.

And the team total of 387 for two is a new high in Division Five, beating Little Bardfield’s 382 for six set in 2004.

But despite all that, Kevin Dobson’s hard-hit 84 in reply for Bury III ensured the margin of defeat was not the highest of the day – Bury eventually lost by 245 runs, but Sudbourne Hall were losing by 263 runs at Nowton Park in Division Nine.

Danny Reynolds had the best bowling figures of the day as his nine for 56 secured the Division Two title for Lakenheath with victory over Elmstead Grasshoppers.

Division One teams Maldon (59) and Ipswich (69) had the lowest team totals as they lost to the top two teams, while the closest wins of the day went to Mildenhall III (by one wicket away to Brightlingsea II in Division Five) and Hadleigh II, who beat Long Melford by nine runs in Division Four. Melford had the consolation of securing enough points to make sure of the title.

Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship

Division One

Woolpit 188 (A Northcote 54, J Firth 31, A Bullett 26, O Whiteman 24, C Bragg 3 for 15, W Blackwell 3 for 54). *Coggeshall 191 for 3 (B Ovenstone 117no, J Rees 38no, W Parker 3 for 54). Coggeshall (20) bt Woolpit (5) by 7 wkts.

Abberton 118 (R Moxon 34, T Zaman 26, R Singh 5 for 7). *Haverhill 119 for 1 (B Moran 56no, A Dellar 25no, S Powell 23). Haverhill (20) bt Abberton (1) by 9 wkts.

*Ipswich 69 (J Alder 23, T Jenkin 4 for 26, Jas East 4 for 31). Copdock & OIs 73 for 0 (A Nel 57no). Copdock (20) bt Ipswich (0) by 10 wkts.

*Maldon 59 (M Coker 20no, J Holmes 3 for 7, L Lwana 3 for 11). Mildenhall 60 for 2 (B Shepperson 37). Mildenhall (20) bt Maldon (1) by 8 wkts.

*Mistley 246 (K Robb 54, H Parkes 46, M Bibby 41, P Garwood 26, D Smith 23, D Hayward 3 for 24, D Baigent 3 for 66). Exning 249 for 6 (C Lomas 97no, R Grove 31, T Catley 31, O Fowlston 29, D Atkinson 23). Exning (20) bt Mistley (8) by 4 wkts.

Frinton 240 for 8. *Wivenhoe 190. Frinton (20) bt Wivenhoe (8) by 50 runs.

Division Two

*Braintree 157 (W Jackson 51, J Willsher 3 for 41). East Bergholt 159 for 2 (S Foster 66no, I Gedny 40no, J Barnett 32). East Bergholt (20) bt Braintree (4) by 8 wkts.

*Easton 176 for 8 (J Kimmerling 41, A Bennett 39, W Mitchell 20no, A Oswald 4 for 43). Woodbridge & OWs 116 (E Parker 28, R Scopes 20, G Mitchell 5 for 24). Easton (20) bt Woodbridge (5) by 60 runs.

Brightlingsea 99 (L Gould 20, G Driver 3 for 19, K Mildenhall 3 for 28). *Ipswich & East Suffolk 102 for 2 (H Hazelwood 31no, R Glassford 28, D Leach 20no). IES (20) bt Brighlingsea (1) by 8 wkts.

Elmstead Grasshoppers 101 (J Butcher 38, D Reynolds 9 for 56). *Lakenheath 103 for 4 (Rob Horrex 40no, G Palmer 20). Lakenheath (20) bt Elmstead (3) by 8 wkts.

*Witham 183 for 8 (C Gladwin 58, L Facey 46no, K Hawes 36, M Spence 3 for 41, R Topley 3 for 57). Hadleigh 186 for 7 (N Ellis 35no, K Ellis 29, T Rix 26, R Topley 22, A Milnes 22no, M McKendry 3 for 41). Hadleigh (19) bt Witham (7) by 3 wkts.

*Dunmow 204 for 9. Brockley 153. Dunmow (20) bt Brockley (7) by 51 runs.

Division Three

*Little Bardfield Village 206 for 7 (A Kemp 98no, W Slemmings 40, D Bass 39, M Butler 3 for 51). Coggeshall II 178 for 6 (M Butler 84no, J Neale 23, C Green 22no, S Hudspith 3 for 14). Bardfield (18) bt Coggeshall II (7) by 28 runs.

*Mildenhall II 187 for 9 (S Grinling 35, A Lack 32, R Cross 21, C Estlea 4 for 60). Worlington 188 for 1 (T Osborn 130no, G Ford 42). Worlington (19) bt Mildenhall II (4) by 9 wkts.

Kelvedon & Feering 178 for 9 (A Parker 34, J Baker 24, D Schofield 24, O Parsons 23, S Stobbs 21no, J Finbow 5 for 59). *Stowmarket 179 for 5 (T Madanayaka 71no, C Sirimanne 41no, B Barker 27). Stowmarket (19)bt Kelvedon & Feering (6) by 5 wkts.

*Sudbury II 131 (A Younger 39, M Pears 34, B Rawson 3 for 44). Copdock 137 for 3 (J Bell 72, G Northover 36no). Copford (20) bt Sudbury II (2) by 7 wkts.

Clacton II 97 (M Asghar 41, R Dhaliwal 30, P Douglas 6 for 37). *Bury St Edmunds II 100 for 5 (M Nunn 56no). Bury II (20) bt Clacton II (2) by 5 wkts.

*Felixstowe 214 for 8 (J Lander 46, D Snell 31, T Shahid 31, A Hopkins 22, H Green 21, J Rose 4 for 57). Halstead II 88 (N Dakin 26, J Lander 5 for 11). Felixstowe (20) bt Halstead II (4) by 126 runs.

Division Four

Ipswich & East Suffolk II 178 for 9 (D Bloomfield 33, P Budd 33, K Howlett 28, T Debenham 24, K Banham 4 for 46). *Copdock & OIs II 182 for 2 (K Banham 60, J Green 52, H Gravell 31no, A Baker 26no). Copdock II (19) bt IES II (5) by 8 wkts.

Mistley II 220 for 9 (J Scott 62, B Leeke 32no, S Everett 28, P Palmer 24, B Readman 4 for 46). *Exning II 186 for 9 (P Woods 47, S Readman 42, B Leeke 6 for 44, P Palmer 3 for 48). Mistley II (19) bt Mistley II (8) by 34 runs.

St Margarets 157 (P Denness 35, J Todd 33, R White 24, J Beaumont 21, J Matthews 6 for 39). *Needham Market 158 for 3 (S Ward 59, S Mortimer 56no). Needham Market (20) bt St Margarets II (4) by 7 wkts.

Ipswich II 212 for 5 (S Porter 89, S Connelly 67, H Fiddes 3 for 59). *Woolpit II 214 for 4 (C Wishlade 58, M Eeles 56no, A Stewart 35, J Bradwell 24). Woolpit II (17) bt Ipswich II (7) by 6 wkts.

*Yoxford 203 for 9 (T Percival 62, D Cialini 32, S Lincoln 24, M Keetch 23no, A Dumesny 22). Wivenhoe II 156 (P Tonkinson 32, G Bowden 26, A Green 22, R Stacey 20, S Patil 3 for 18, J Bailey 3 for 39, M Lincoln 3 for 50). Yoxford (20) bt Wivenhoe II (7) by 47 runs.

*Hadleigh II 140 (R Smyth 41, R Checketts 35, J Cole 4 for 21). Long Melford 131 (H Walters 59, D Hinsley 4 for 29, B Tampion 3 for 10, G Hayton 3 for 37). Hadleigh II (20) bt Long Melford (7) by 9 runs.

Division Five

*Abberton II 133 for 7 (Steve Johnson 28no, B Rudlin 24, G Savill 23, Simon Johnson 21, P Preston 5 for 44). Witham II 134 for 4 (J Trigg 54no, P Austin 28no), C Scott 3 for 52). Witham II (18) bt Abberton II (4) by 6 wkts.

*Kelvedon & Feering II 387 for 2 (W Shortridge 213no, M Wilde 100no, R Burt 21). Bury St Edmunds III 142 (K Dobson 84, T Curry 27, P Lightbown 4 for 31). Kelvedon II (20) bt Bury III (3) by 245 runs.

*Frinton II 209 (N Patel 53, B Clements 46, T Sinclair 46, S Plant 25, C Punchard 3 for 42, C Pateman 3 for 54). Maldon II 168 (J Ellis 34, S Coker 21, R Walpole 21no, N Patel 4 for 21). Frinton II (20) bt Maldon II (8) by 41 runs.

*Brightlingsea II 192 for 5. Mildenhall III 193 for 9. Mildenhall III (18) bt Brightlingsea II (8) by 1 wkt.

Earls Colne 189 for 6 (D Brooker 65, J Durkin 36no, J Lee 34, O Turner 24, C Semple 3 for 50). *Harwich & Dovercourt 190 for 4 (W Poole 68no, S Good 63no, A Bilton 25, J Smith 3 for 48). Harwich (18) bt Earls Colne (6) by 6 wkts.

Division Eight

*Brockley II (20) eived a walkover from Easton II (0).

Division Nine

*Elveden 275 for 6 (A Flack 99, C Wood 88, D Rodic 26, D Taylor 3 for 35). West Mersea 67 (A Shissad 33, S Flack 6 for 29). Elveden (20) bt West Mersea (3) by 204 runs.

*West Bergholt 153 (I Jeeva 80, W Rout 3 for 22, C Johnson 3 for 31). Bury St Edmunds IV 155 for 2 (W Earle 62no, S Rout 59no). Bury IV (20) bt West Bergholt (4) by 8 wkts.

*Nowton 358 for 3 (L Kretzmann 116no, J Walker 68no, S Danson 64, K Howes 42). Sudbourne Hall 95 (T Whayman 25, S Moss 22, J Wharton 4 for 38, M Turner 3 for 11, D Hill 3 for 28). Nowton (20) bt Sudbourne Hall (1) by 263 runs.

Division C

Clacton 172 for 9 (R Nippress 41, J Couchman 37, W Surrall 28, M Stratton 26no, J Occleshaw 24, D Stockdale 5 for 60). *Frinton 122 for 9 (R Stockdale 48). Clacton (19) bt Frinton (5) by 50 runs.

Mistley 93. *Brightlingsea 95 for 6. Brightlingsea (20) bt Mistley (3) by 4 wkts.

Ladies’ Challenge

Battisford 43. *Easton 44 for 2. Easton (20) bt Battisford (1) by 8 wkts.

*Ipswich 163 for 6 (A Ford 73no, D Lavender 29, T Westley 3 for 26). Woodbridge & OWs 63 (D Keeble 3 for 4, R Woodward 3 for 8). Ipswich (20) bt Woodbridge (3) by 100 runs.

Ladies’ T20

Frinton 74. *Copdock & OIs 75 for 3. Copdock (20) bt Frinton (3) by 7 wkts.

Mistley 85 for 5. *Copdock & OIs 86 for 0. Copdock (17) bt Mistley (3) by 10 wkts.

* denotes home team