Mildenhall go two points clear at the top

Ipswich came within a whisker of defeating second-placed Woolpit, losing by just one run in a thrilling finish.

The home team were once again indebted to Mike Jones, whose 132 not out off 129 balls with 17 fours and three sixes came out of a total of 217 for eight – the next highest score being just 21.

Ipswich needed 11 off the last over with former Suffolk batsman Simon Halliday on strike. He took two off each of the first three balls and a single off the fourth.

Captain Chris Bell opted to go legside, but hit the ball straight to mid-wicket for a single from the fifth, leaving three required off the final delivery.

Halliday got a thick outside edge and a diving stop prevented the ball going for four, leaving Woolpit one-run winners.

Bell said: “After losing their last two matches we thought they would be low on confidence, and that if we could get amongst them we could get a result.

“The big turning point of the match came when Mike Jones was dropped on six. He skied the ball to mid-wicket between three fielders and we put him down.

“They were 38 for four at the time, and if we had got him out then I think they would have scored 100 less than they did, but he batted brilliantly after that and didn’t offer another chance.

“For the majority of their innings it looked as though they would get under 200, but the last over bowled by my brother Steve went for 19 and that was a psychological boost for them.

“However, we bowled and fielded well and were confident that we could still win. We have a settled top six and apart from the Mildenhall match the week before we have batted well this season.

“Although we lost Joe Rusby early on James Alder and Jack Rowett both batted well and scored fifties, but they turned the screw with their slow bowlers and we lost our way for five or six overs in the middle of our innings.

“To get that close and lose was very disappointing, because we felt we deserved to win.”

When asked who he felt would win the title Bell said: “Mildenhall – 100 per cent. Woolpit have done brilliantly to get to where they are now, but Mildenhall have got more strength in depth.”

While Woolpit picked up 18 points for their win, Mildenhall made sure of maximum points at home to Elmstead Grasshoppers. Ben Shepperson, fresh from scoring his first half-century for Suffolk, struck 120 and added 95 for the fifth wicket with Andy Squire in their 91-run success.

Essex bowler Tymal Mills then celebrated his last day as a teenager with figures of 16-6-46-5 and Azeem Ghumman claimed 14-2-38-4.

Mistley kept up the pressure in third place after thrashing Lakenheath by 150 runs despite the best efforts of Paul Pallant, who followed up his six for 62 by top-scoring with 38 for the visitors.

It’s as you were after the top six teams in Division Two all won on Saturday. Braintree’s Will Jackson smashed 12 fours and five sixes in his undefeated 103 for Braintree and team-mate David Hale then returned 15-5-31-6 in their victory over Easton.

Luke Swanston (107) and Josh Down shared a century opening stand for Dunmow in their defeat at Worlington, for whom Jimmy Watson (91) and Chris Baugh (86) had put on 99 for the third wicket.

Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship

DIVISION ONE

Coggeshall 189 for 8 (A Stockton 44no, W Blackwell 40, J Searles 35, J Rees 29, J Woodley 4 for 67). *Haverhill 85 (J Searles 4 for 26, G Blackwell 4 for 33). Coggeshall (20pts) bt Haverhill (4pts) by 104 runs.

*Frinton 273 for 7 (R Reifer 130, M Foakes 57, T Sinclair 47, I Morton 20). Maldon 115 (C Harris 65, I Elliott 20, T Moulton 5 for 11, I Morton 4 for 22). Frinton (20pts) bt Maldon (4pts) by 158 runs.

*Mildenhall 233 for 9 (B Shepperson 120, A Squire 49, A Reynolds 26, T Mills 23, A Garnham 5 for 56). Elmstead Grasshoppers 142 (D Harris 59, T Mills 5 for 46, A Ghumann 4 for 38). Mildenhall (20pts) bt Elmstead Grasshoppers (6pts) by 91 runs.

*Mistley 270 for 9 (B Allday 48, M Griggs 44, G Stevens 39, K Young 34, J Scott 33, P Pallant 6 for 62). Lakenheath 120 (P Pallant 38, A Horrex 33). Mistley (20pts) bt Lakenheath (5pts) by 150 runs.

*Wivenhoe 232 for 8 (R Savill 65, J Fowler 34, O Morgan 31no, T Affleck 30, T Harwood 20, S Lawson 4 for 50, O Lawson 3 for 95). Exning 113 (T Catley 61, O Carr 20, J Fowler 5 for 16, H Burnett 3 for 38). Wivenhoe (20pts) bt Exning (5pts) by 119 runs.

*Woolpit 217 for 8 (M Jones 132no, M Collinge 21, T Watson 4 for 19, S Bell 3 for 70). Ipswich 216 for 6 (J Alder 55, J Rowett 52, S Gibson 27, C Bell 21no, J allan 3 for 54). Woolpit (18pts) bt Ipswich (9pts) by 1 run.

DIVISION TWO

*Abberton 178 for 8 (J Ward 38, R Moxon 34, D Davies 31, C Scott 25, S Suett 4 for 40). Witham 180 for 4 (R Green 39, K Hawes 36, J Suett 34, E Suett 26no, L Facey 20no). Witham (19pts) bt Abberton (6pts) by 6 wkts.

*Braintree 274 for 5 (W Jackson 103no, R Vickery 41, C Leech 31). Easton 141 for 9 (D Hale 6 for 31). Braintree (20pts) bt Easton (5pts) by 133 runs.

Brightlingsea 104. Hadleigh 110 for 2. Hadleigh (20pts) bt Brightlingsea (2pts) by 8 wkts.

*Ipswich & East Suffolk 232 for 8 (S Worne 55, M Kumar 33, H Hazlewood 32, M Worne 32). Brockley 122 (S Fisher 58, S Hawley 37, K Mildenhall 3 for 28). Ipswich & ES (20pts) bt Brockley (5pts) by 110 runs.

Mildenhall II 225 for 5 (R Cross 66, T Allen 48, M Taylor 34, A Lack 33). *Woodbridge & OW 231 for 7 (E Parker 67, B Hamnett 58, R Scopes 28no, M Taylor 3 for 38, P Akolade 3 for 55). Woodbridge & OW (17pts) bt Mildenhall II (8pts) by 3 wkts.

*Worlington 277 for 6 (J Watson 91, C Baugh 86, C Estlea 35, T Osborn 25, P Reid 3 for 81). Dunmow 238 (L Swanston 107, J Down 73, C Estlea 5 for 66). Worlington (20pts) bt Dunmow (8pts) by 39 runs.

DIVISION THREE

*Bury St Edmunds II 191. Long Melford 142. Bury St Edmunds II (20pts) bt Long Melford (7pts) by 49 runs.

*Coggeshall II 208 for 6. Halstead II 135. Coggeshall II (20pts) bt Halstead II (5pts) by 73 runs.

*Felixstowe 170 for 6. Copford 173 for 7. Copford (18pts) bt Felixstowe (6pts) by 3 wkts.

*Little Bardfield Village 274 for 8 (D Bass 127, E Hitchcock 29, P Stone 29, T Graham 30, I Price 5 for 84). Yoxford 176 for 7 (N Burrett 46, M Keetch 31, F Embleton 31, M Graham 3 for 29). Little Bardfield Village (18pts) bt Yoxford (8pts) by 98 runs.

Kelvedon & Feering 228 for 9. *Stowmarket 102. Kelvedon & Feering (20pts) bt Stowmarket (5pts) by 126 runs.

*Sudbury II 164 for 9. East Bergholt 102. Sudbury II (20pts) bt East Bergholt (5pts) by 62 runs.

DIVISION FOUR

Ipswich II v Ipswich & ES II - result not received.

Mistley II 97. *Copdock & OI II 100 for 2. Copdock & OI II (20pts) bt Mistley II (1pt) by 8 wkts.

*Needham Market 191. Earl Stonham 164. Needham Market (20pts) by Earl Stonham (8pts) by 27 runs.

*Witham II 163. Frinton II 166 for 7. Frinton II (20pts) bt Witham II (6pts) by 3 wkts.

Woolpit II 199 for 7. *Clacton II 201 for 5. Clacton II (18pts) bt Woolpit II (6pts) by 5 wkts.

DIVISION FIVE

Abberton II 154 for 7. *Elmstead Grasshoppers II 156 for 4. Elmstead Grasshoppers II (18pts) bt Abberton II (5pts) by 6 wkts.

*Great Bromley 233 for 8. Tuddenham 146. Gt Bromley (20pts) bt Tuddenham (6pts) by 87 runs.

Boxted 145 for 7. *Harwich & Dovercourt 146 for 2. Harwich & Dovercourt (18pts) bt Boxted (3pts) by 8 wkts.

Mildenhall III 225 for 3. *Kelvedon & Feering II 172. Mildenhall III (20pts) bt Kelvedon & Feering II (4pts) bt 53 runs.

*Maldon II 213 for 7. Bury St Edmunds III 132. Maldon II (20pts) bt Bury St Edmunds III (5pts) by 79 runs.

Wivenhoe II 204 for 6. *St Margarets 152. Wivenhoe II (20pts) bt St Margarets (6pts) by 52 runs.

DIVISION SIX

Braintree II 169 for 5. *Mildenhall IV 170 for 1. Mildenhall IV (17pts) bt Braintree II (3pts) by 9 wkts.

*Earls Colne 159 for 7. Ipswich III 160 for 4. Ipswich III (18pts) bt Earls Colne (5pts) by 6 wkts.

Felixstowe Corinthians 216 for 9. *Long Melford II 217 for 5. Long Melford II (19pts) bt Felixstowe Corinthians (7pts) by 5 wkts.

Haverhill II 190 for 5. *Brightlingsea II 177 for 6. Haverhill II (18pts) bt Brightlingsea II (6pts) by 13 runs.

Nacton 235 for 5. *Melton St Audrys 92. Nacton (20pts) bt Melton St Audrys (2pts) by 143 runs.

DIVISION SEVEN

*East Bergholt II 77. Copford II 66. East Bergholt II (20pts) bt Copford II (5pts) by 11 runs.

Felixstowe II 146 for 7. *Sudbury III 147 for 2. Sudbury III (18pts) bt Felixstowe II (3pts) by 8 wkts.

Kesgrave v Coggeshall III - Kesgrave (20pts) bt Coggeshall III (0pts) by concession.

Halstead III 182 for 8. *Maldon III 125. Halstead III (20pts) bt Maldon III (6pts) by 57 runs.

*St Osyth 321 for 4. Stowmarket II 155 for 9. St Osyth (19pts) bt Stowmarket II (5pts) by 166 runs.

DIVISION EIGHT EAST

Stradbroke 219 for 4. *Easton II 170 for 6. Stradbroke (18pts) bt Easton II (5pts) by 49 runs.

DBSL 170 for 9. *Sudbourne Hall 94. DBSL (20pts) bt Sudbourne Hall (4pts) by 76 runs.

Woodbridge & OW II v Eye & District - result not received.

St Margarets II 121. *Worlingworth 77. St Margarets II (20pts) bt Worlingworth (5pts) by 44 runs.

DIVISION EIGHT SOUTH

Brantham 225 for 4. *Witham III 225. Witham III (12pts) tied with Brantham (15pts).

*Eight Ash Green 248 for 6. Harwich & Dovercourt II 22. Eight Ash Green (20pts) bt Harwich & Dovercourt II (3pts) by 226 runs.

*Kelvedon & Feering III 126 for 5. West Mersea 130 for 1. West Mersea (17pts) bt Kelvedon & Feering III (2pts) by 9 wkts.

West Bergholt 101. *Tendring 106 for 1. Tendring (20pts) bt West Bergholt (1pt) by 9 wkts.

DIVISION EIGHT WEST

Battisford 68. *Brockley II 71 for 4. Brockley II (20pts) bt Battisford (2pts) by 6 wkts.

*Bury St Edmunds IV 205 for 7. Elveden 208 for 3. Elveden (18pts) bt Bury St. Edmunds IV (6pts) by 7 wkts.

Worlington II 175 for 8. *Nowton 176 for 3. Nowton (19pts) bt Worlington II (5pts) by 7 wkts.

DIVISION C

*Brightlingsea 128. Wivenhoe 110. Brightlingsea (20pts) bt Wivenhoe (6pts) by 18 runs.

*Clacton 333 for 3. Ipswich 203 for 5. Clacton (17pts) bt Ipswich (6pts) by 130 runs.

Mistley 169 for 9. *Coggeshall 170 for 1. Coggeshall (19pts) bt Mistley (3pts) by 9 wkts.

DIVISION C CUP

*Coggeshall 162 for 9. Ipswich 118. Coggeshall (2pts) bt Ipswich (0pts) by 44 runs.

LADIES T20

*Frinton 179 for 4. Felixstowe 84 for 4. Frinton (17pts) bt Felixstowe (5pts) by 95 runs.

LADIES CHALLENGE

Cambridge NCI v Ipswich - result not received.

Woodbridge & OW 207 for 9. *Miildenhall 108 for 7. Woodbridge & OW (18pts) bt Mildenhall (7pts) by 99 runs.

Easton 73. *Woolpit 74 for 2. Woolpit (20pts) bt Easton (2pts) by 8 wkts.

* Denotes home team.