IT WAS not a good day to bat first in Division One of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship – and it may have proved to have been even better not to have played at all.

All five teams who batted first were beaten, including the teams who had been second, third and fourth in the table. Mildenhall, who had beaten Coggeshall on a Bank Holiday Monday after rearranging their match, now find themselves 24 points clear at the top of the table.

Wivenhoe lost their unbeaten record at the hands of Haverhill. Essex batsman Billy Godleman scored 52 but he did not receive much support as Simon Youngs (four for 33) and Rajan Singh (three for 29) got to work. Anthony Phillips, aged 16, got in on the act with two for 13 and Chris Silverwood merely intervened to claim the final wicket in his eighth over, as the innings closed on a modest 114.

Even so, Haverhill had to work hard to reach their target, with Scott Webb (32), Sam Powell (23) and Bill Moran (15 not out) helping them over the line for a three-wicket win.

Woolpit, Maldon and Abberton also failed to set a decent target, being dismissed for 119, 112 and 95 respectively. Exning, Ipswich and Copdock duly racked up easy wins.

Daniel Baigent (four for 34) and Ollie Lawson (three for 21) did the damage for Exning, with Tim Catley following up with an unbeaten half-century.

Maldon and Abberton are still seeking their first wins after Steve Bell’s six for 40 destroyed Maldon, with James Alder seeing Ipswich home with 54 not out, and Tom Jenkin (four for 19) and Chris Swallow (three for 20) hurried Abberton to defeat.

Frinton had 80 from Chat Herath and 72 from Mark Jones, but their total of 194 was not enough at Mistley, who reached their target for a three-wicket win thanks mainly to Michael Griggs (89) and Matt Bibby (36 not out).

The leading quartet in Division Two all won, with Elmstead Grasshoppers having to work hard to make it seven wins in a row at Brightlingsea. Stuart Baker’s 71 helped the home team to 202 for six, but Doug Harris (75) and Michael Lobb (46 not out) guided Elmstead to a two-wicket success.

Lakenheath skittled Brockley for 76 and won by eight wickets, while Hadleigh came out on top after a high-scoring contest at Braintree. There were useful contributions from the top three and then an unbeaten half-century from William Jackson as Braintree posted 240 for seven, but Tim Rix (57) and Josh Davey (94 not out) gave Hadleigh a good start and Murray Spence finished it off with 48 not out.

Drew Cameron (71) and former England player Neil Foster (52) helped East Bergholt to 222 for eight but Spencer Chorlton (69) and Mark Fernley (68 not out) led Easton to a seven-wicket win.

Gavin Driver snapped up seven for 56 as Woodbridge were bowled out for 110, giving Ipswich & East Suffolk an 82-run win. Mildenhall II, strengthened by Lennox Lwana (three for 25) and Ben Shepperson (six for 25), beat Stowmarket by 43 runs to keep pace with Worlington, 34-run winners over Copford, at the top of Division Three.

In Division Five Craig Perrin and Richard Lawson scored centuries as Great Bromley reached 349 for two, but Kevin Dobson was in lazy mood in reply with 92 of his 98 runs coming in boundaries as Bury III were bowled out for 186.

Earls Colne won for the first time in Division Five after a century from Steve Wilsher and an amazing 77 extras, including 56 wides, away to Abberton II.

Simon Aldous scored a century on Saturday, but still finished with a slight personal deficit on the day.

That’s because the Bury IV captain had taken a very young team to Woodbridge where the home side rattled up a league record 426 for four in their 45 overs, and Aldous took up the responsibility to send down 13 overs to claim three for 127.

“All my nightmares came to fruitition” said Aldous, who was well aware he was skippering an uncompetitive team. “I think it was right that they batted first as it gave them a game of cricket, but they were merciless.”

Will Nicholl hit 24 fours and seven sixes in his 188 which was the highest individual score of the weekend. Aldous replied with 101 of his own and Bury avoided being bowled out.

Aldous did point out that although Division Nine is at the bottom of the local cricket structure there were a number of teams who should be a lot higher up the divisions. “There are six very good teams having joined the league at the bottom who are much stronger than the rest.”

He felt it would also make sense to regionalise the lower divisions to save on travelling.

One of the most remarkable wins saw Maldon III beat Stowmarket II by one wicket. In reply to 258 for four Steve Bulger came to the wicket with the scoreboard showing 37 for five. He then cracked an unbeaten 123 to lead his team to a one-wicket win with nearly five overs to spare.

Martin Kingdon took the bowling honours with seven for 31 for Mildenhall IV at home to East Bergholt II after Lily Reynolds had missed out on her maiden century by just five runs.

Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship

Division One

Abberton 95 (D Davies 29, T Jenkin 4 for 19, C Swallow 3 for 20). *Copdock & OIs 99 for 2 (R Sharpe 43, H Thomas 22no, A Gravell 20). Copdock (20) bt Abberton (1) by 8 wkts.

Wivenhoe 114 (B Godleman 52, R Stacey 22, S Youngs 4 for 33, R Singh 3 for 29). *Haverhill 115 for 7 (S Webb 32, S Powell 23, T Durrell 3 for 28). Haverhill (20) bt Wivenhoe (4) by 3 wkts.

Maldon 112 (M Gozzett 34, S Bell 6 for 40). *Ipswich 113 for 2 (J Alder 54no, J Rusby 33). Ipswich (20) bt Maldon (2) by 8 wkts.

Frinton 194 (C Herath 80, M Jones 72, M Bibby 4 for 54, K Young 3 for 45). *Mistley 195 for 7 (M Griggs 89, M Bibby 36no, T Moulton 4 for 69, T Lawes 3 for 48). Mistley (20) bt Frinton (7) by 3 wkts.

*Woolpit 119 (D Crame 42, A Stewart 25, D Thompson 20, D Baigent 4 for 34, O Lawson 3 for 21). Exning 120 for 3 (T Catley 50no, R Grove 34). Exning (20) bt Woolpit (2) by 7 wkts.

Division Two

*Brightlingsea 202 for 6 (S Baker 71, J Gould 48, T Cracknell 20). Elmstead Grasshoppers 203 for 8 (D Harris 75, M Lobb 46no, D Sargeant 24). Elmstead (18) bt Brightlingsea (9) by 2 wkts.

*East Bergholt 222 for 8 (D Cameron 71, N Foster 52, I Gedny 38, N Philpot 28no, J Brotherton 3 for 35). Easton 224 for 3 (S Chorlton 69, M Fernley 68no, T Huggins 29no, J Kimmerling 26). Easton (19) bt East Bergholt (6) by 7 wkts.

*Ipswich & East Suffolk 192 for 8 (D Leach 78no, M Kumar 35, C Stockwell 3 for 49). Woodbridge & OWs 110 (E Parker 35, B Lambert 23, G Driver 7 for 56). IES (20) bt Woodbridge (5) by 82 runs.

*Braintree 240 for 7 (W Jackson 52no, W Celiz 47, R Jones 39, D Denny 29, M Spence 3 for 75). Hadleigh 246 for 3 (J Davey 94no, T Rix 57, M Spence 48no, T Piddington 27). Hadleigh (18) bt Braintree (6) by 7 wkts.

Dunmow 271 for 5 (C Barker 141no, P Reid 78). *Witham 272 for 4 (K Hawes 99, J Suett 53, G Taylor 35, L Facey 35, J Down 3 for 67). Witham (17) bt Dunmow (7) by 6 wkts.

Brockley 76. *Lakenheath 79 for 2. Lakenheath (20) bt Brockley (1) by 8 wkts.

Division Three

Kelvedon & Feering 202 for 7 (A Parker 108no, J Baker 27, L Scott 27, D Snell 4 for 63). *Felixstowe 136 (R Cresswell 37, J Tooley 36, B Connell 25, T Peperell 4 for 54, E Smith 3 for 19). Kelvedon (20) bt Felixstowe (5) by 66 runs.

*Mildenhall II 241 for 6 (S Grinling 79, C Baugh 50, R Clark 42, B Shepperson 23no). Stowmarket 198 (K Holland 43, P Blake 39, T Madanayaka 31, B Shepperson 6 for 51, L Lwana 3 for 25). Mildenhall II (20) bt Stowmarket (7) by 43 runs.

Clacton II 194 for 8 (M Asghar 77, B Pitts 32, Asif 31no, R Dhaliwal 21, D Elsbury 4 for 71). *Halstead II 119 (J Rose 39, D Baalham 23, N Hussain 5 for 29). Clacton II (20) bt Halstead II (5) by 75 runs.

*Worlington 255 for 8 (C Thompson 50, G Ford 44, C Estlea 39, J Watson 36, R Ford 32, I Catley 4 for 52). Copford 220 (I Catley 40, K Sargeant 31, C Reid 31, R Measor 26, B Rawson 25, J Bell 20, C Estlea 4 for 81, D Stannard 3 for 66). Worlington (20) bt Copford (9) by 35 runs.

*Bury St Edmunds II 255. Coggeshall II 202 for 7. Bury II (18) bt Coggeshall II (10) by 53 runs.

Little Bardfield Village 190 for 8 (P Stone 54, S Hudspith 24, D Bass 22, M Welby 21, A Kemp 20, B Richardson 3 for 69). Sudbury 123 (S O’Brien 21, D Bass 5 for 48, P Gray 3 for 33). Lt Bardfield (20) bt Sudbury II (5) by 57 runs.

Division Four

*Exning II 185 for 5 (S Readman 72, P Woods 35, B Readman 32). Copdock & OIs II 189 for 6 (J Cuff 52, K Banham 50, D Shorten 27, S Wootton 22). Copdock II (17) bt Exning II (7) by 4 wkts.

*Hadleigh II 177 (N Abdul 51, R Checketts 45, J Rix 30, N Pryke 3 for 42, G Tuteja 3 for 48, Y Bhatt 3 for 51). Ipswich & ES II 178 for 9 (D Bloomfield 42, K Howlett 37, N Pryke 27, M Howlett 24, D Bird 5 for 56). IES II (20) bt Hadleigh II (8) by 1 wkt.

*Needham Market 221 for 9 (S Mortimer 94, R Hill 48, H Walters 6 for 45, S Whitehart 3 for 20). Long Melford 223 for 7 (G Boon 43no, S Hale 41, H Walters 40, N Wright 37, L Phillips 34). Long Melford (19) bt Needham Market (8) by 3 wkts.

*St Margarets 145 (J Todd 58, J Beaumont 23, J Howe 3 for 33). Ipswich II 146 for 4 (S Gibson 49, K Williams 29, R Gibson 28). Ipswich II (20) bt St Margarets (4) by 6 wkts.

*Wivenhoe II 173 for 9 (P Tonkinson 69, R Harwood 35, R Roxburgh 4 for 37, J Scott 3 for 33). Mistley II 174 for 2 (N Cooper 69no, S Everett 41, J Scott 38). Mistley II (19) bt Wivenhoe II (4) by 8 wkts.

Woolpit II 215 (A Bullett 55, J Firth 48, M Eeles 36, M Keetch 4 for 106, S Patil 3 for 47). *Yoxford 216 for 4 (B Vincent 111, R Marston 58). Yoxford (20) bt Woolpit II (7) by 6 wkts.

Division Five

Harwich & Dovercourt 191 for 7 (R Mehon 49, S Felgate 37, W Poole 27no, G Moors 21, R Khaira 4 for 40). *Boxted 192 for 5 (R Khaira 64no, M Pearce 49, I Evans 21, C Semple 5 for 45). Boxted (18) bt Harwich (6) by 5 wkts.

Great Bromley 349 for 2 (C Perrin 139, R Lawson 125no, M Wareing 25, L Perrin 22no). *Bury St Edmunds III 186 (K Dobson 98, A Smith 29, J Hayes 23, M Wareing 5 for 31, M Wake 3 for 20). Gt Bromley (20) bt Bury III (6) by 163 runs.

Mildenhall III 223 for 9 (J Absolon 94, A Lack 30, S Hunt 29, J Taylor 27). *Frinton II 224 for 3 (J Hall 140no, B Clements 41). Frinton II (19) bt Mildenhall III (6) by 7 wkts.

Witham II 243 for 7 (J Trigg 58, D Beatty 49, P Austin 38, D Ward 29no, C Spence 26, M Foster 4 for 61). *Maldon II 187 for 8 (A Barnes 53, L Monk 41, S Gozzett 39, C Spence 3 for 32, P Preston 3 for 36). Witham II (19) bt Maldon II (7) by 56 runs.

Earls Colne 294 for 9 (S Wilsher 102no, W Bradshaw 35, D Brooker 32, extras 77, A Trussler 5 for 37). *Abberton II 163 for 9 (M Johnson 37, L Parish 3 for 47). Earls Colne (19) bt Abberton II (7) by 131 runs.

*Kelvedon & Feering II 172 (M Wilde 60, R Wilson 32, R Burt 24, A Yates 24, M Dowman 5 for 48). Brightlingsea II 136 (M Brown 46, R McDonald 31, R Bradshaw 3 for 25, R Wilson 3 for 30). Kelvedon II (20) bt Brightlingsea II (7) by 36 runs.

Division Six

*Copford 146 (I Humm 46, J Barnsley-Sadasan 4 for 30). Felixstowe Corinthians 148 for 0 (C Monteith 75no, A Harrison 52no). Corinthians (20) bt Copford (2) by 10 wkts.

*Elmstead Grasshoppers II 202 for 8 (B Cooper 35no, A Smith 31no, M Street 29, F Eadie 28, J Sheekey 25, M Jefferson 5 for 36). Braintree II 203 for 5 (R Vickery 91no, S Hooper 38, D Garner 24, A Ledgerton 21, M Kent 20no, B Cooper 3 for 58). Braintree II (19) bt Elmstead II (7) by 5 wkts.

*Ipswich III 193 (J Scott 91, J Greig 28, D Pass 5 for 4). Haverhill II 148 (P Jones 27, T Saville 25, N Johnson 6 for 35). Ipswich III (20) bt Haverhill II (7) by 45 runs.

*Kesgrave 236 for 9 (J Burnett 81, D Gallant 64, S Colver 22, T Harris 3 for 54). Tuddenham 237 for 4 (K Pryke 68, D Cross 44, T Harris 35, A Bromley 29, S Titcombe 24). Tuddenham (19) bt Kesgrave (7) by 6 wkts.

Nacton 117 for 8 (G Songer 28, J Lord 4 for 63). *Melton St Audry’s 118 for 1 (C Byne 81no, M Utting 32no). Melton (19) bt Nacton (1) by 9 wkts.

Division Seven

St Margarets II 66 (K Roche 21no, G Adams 8 for 22). *Long Melford II 67 for 1. Long Melford II (20) bt St Margarets II (0) by 9 wkts.

*Mildenhall IV 271 for 4 (L Reynolds 95, M Saunders 69, R Thurston 49no). East Bergholt II 84 (O Barron 33, M Kingdon 7 for 31). Mildenhall IV (20) bt East Bergholt II (2) by 187 runs.

Stowmarket II 258 for 4 (P Holborn 95, R Newman 68, D Aldous 31no). *Maldon III 259 for 9 (S Bulger 123no, P Bardo 46, D Richardson 23, C Watling 5 for 82, C Newman 3 for 59). Maldon III (17) bt Stowmarket II (9) by 1 wkt.

Ipswich IV 196 for 6 (N Parmenter 53, N Elford 48, P Mobbs 24, B Moulton Day 4 for 45). *Sudbury III 197 for 5 (J Coone 52, D Chambers 50no, C Cook 30, C Holt 28no). Sudbury III (18) bt Ipswich IV (6) by 5 wkts.

Felixstowe II 242 for 7 (D Bennett 111, H Green 60, S Rivers 26no, B Parker 26, D Shelton 3 for 31). *Halstead III 120 (A Pyman 38, S Walter 28, G Edwards 21, L Reeves 4 for 45, B Parker 3 for 33, B Hopkins 3 for 34). Felixstowe II (20) bt Halstead III (4) by 122 runs.

Division Eight

*Brockley II 208 for 8 (J Jones 65, T Fenner 36, A McCaffrey 23no, I Robinson 5 for 56). Tendring 210 for 6 (B Rutledge 82no, S Starling 51, J Bowden 36no, B Watkinson 21, L Grimwood 3 for 33). Tendring (19) bt Brockley II (8) by 4 wkts.

Kelvedon & Feering III 184 (F Warner 65, M Warner 24, J Bonvini 24no, M Pickles 5 for 43, R Parker 4 for 34). *Coggeshall III 185 for 4 (R Parker 45, A Ward 40, N Willis 30no, J Blackwell 27). Coggeshall III (20) bt Kelvedon III (6) by 6 wkts.

Eye 144 (A Huggins 50, P Shelley 28, J Rowntree 23, S Keeble 3 for 34, G Mitchell 3 for 42). *Easton II 145 for 5 (W Thomas 78, J Sayer 25no). Easton II (20) bt Eye (4) by 5 wkts.

*DBSL 105. Witham III 109 for 8. Witham III (20) bt DBSL (5) by 2 wkts.

St Osyth 280 for 5. *Harwich & Dovercourt II 172. St Osyth (20) bt Harwich II (5) by 108 runs.

Division Nine

*Sudbourne Hall 192 for 5 (P Vincent 44, M Whayman 42no, L Cooper 34, J Foreman 24). West Bergholt 164 (B Griffiths 37, A Rippingale 22, T Richardson 3 for 27). Sudbourne Hall (20) bt West Bergholt (5) by 28 runs.

Elveden 193 for 9 (K Curtis 53, S Flack 48, S Firman 22, J Tilsley 5 for 46). *West Mersea 194 for 5 (L Conway 118no, M Laver 32). West Mersea (19) bt Elveden (6) by 5 wkts.

*Woodbridge II 426 for 4 (W Nicholls 188, D Grimes 69no, R Page 68, A Barham 43, A Blagona 28, S Aldous 3 for 127). Bury St Edmunds IV 172 for 6 (S Aldous 101, A Thurkettle 24, R Marshall 4 for 28). Woodbridge II (18) bt Bury IV (5) by 254 runs.

*Eight Ash Green 249 for 9 (A Woodcock 70, N Ukwatte 59, S Nunn 29, T Aston 24no, O Firmin 21, A White 3 for 37, A Watson 3 for 64). Worlington II 206 for 7 (M Bassett 45no, J Peachey 39, B Cole 21no, A Woodcock 4 for 40). Eight Ash Green (18) bt Worlington II (9) by 3 wkts.

Division C

Frinton 179 for 5. Coggeshall 180 for 3. Coggeshall (17) bt Frinton (5) by 7 wkts.

Mistley 65 (A Secret 4 for 23). *Copdock & OIs 69 for 3 (D Searle 41). Copdock (20) bt Mistley (1) by 7 wkts.

Brightlingsea 263 for 4 (G Campbell 100no, D Hunt 53, R MacDonald 42. *Ipswich 108 (J Richards 32, A Bonfield 20, J Bees 3 for 31). Brightlingsea (20) bt Ipswich (3) by 155 runs.

*Wivenhoe 134. Kelvedon & Feering 136 for 7. Kelvedon (20) bt Wivenhoe (5) by 3 wkts.

* denotes home team