SUFFOLK Over-50s are through to the quarter-finals of the National ECB Over-50s County competition for the second consecutive season.

They defeated Hertfordshire by 20 runs at Ipswich School on Sunday to book their place in the last eight.

But after being put into bat by their visitors, Suffolk were in all sorts of trouble after Colin Walters departed following an opening partnership of 30 with Simon Halliday.

Suffolk were reduced to 81 for six, before Ian Knight walked to the wicket to join Halliday. They forged a seventh-wicket stand of 64 off just 69 balls, Halliday eventually falling for 55 from 119 deliveries.

That was the first of three wickets to fall with the total on 145 – Suffolk closing on 145 for nine from their 45 overs

Hertfordshire also struggled in their reply as wickets fell steadily to leave them on 72 for seven thanks to some tight bowling, before they were bowled out for 125.

Knight took the last wicket to wrap up the win and complete a fine individual performance with figures of 8.3-1-29-4.

Suffolk 145 for 9 (S Halliday 55, I Knight 33, C Walters 20, G Robins 19, A Hassan 3 for 29). Hertfordshire 125 (J Dovey 41, D Elder 28, I Knight 4 for 29, A Stubbs 2 for 16). Suffolk won by 20 runs.

DESPITE a century from John Stuck the MSC Suffolk Alliance Over-60s defeated the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship Over-60s representative side by 27 runs at Easton last Thursday.

Both sides were depleted by county call-ups in a match which was almost settled in the opening ten overs of each innings.

The Alliance side compiled 224 for seven, Fred Mitchell top-scoring with 74, after the opening ten overs leaked 70 runs.

Stuck scored 104 not out and Martin Southwell, who had earlier taken three for 35, made 32 not out, but the Alliance’s more balanced attack proved decisive as the wickets were distributed evenly.

THE mature men of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship defied the elements to ensure the President’s match went ahead at Elmstead Market last Wednesday, albeit in a reduced format.

A 30 overs-a-side match saw the President’s men total 169 for seven in their allotted overs, Steve Butcher playing an unexpected starring role with the ball with a stint of three for 33.

The Two Counties Over-50s got off to a slow start as Nigel Dennis (two for eight) and Stuart Carpenter restricted the early batsmen with match-winning spells.

Rupert Haxell and Steve Bulger did their utmost to turn the innings around, but the President’s XI won by 27 runs.

President’s XI 169 for 7 (C Walters 31, N Dennis 29, P Cox 29, P Boughton 26, S Butcher 3 for 33). Two Counties Over-50s 142 for 7 (R Haxell 30, S Bulger 26, N Dennis 2 for 8). President’s XI won by 27 runs.