Witham and Hadleigh confirm promotion back to Division One

Both teams enjoyed emphatic victories on Saturday to return to the top flight, and will replace Exning and Lakenheath next season.

Witham won by eight wickets at Ipswich & East Suffolk, bowling out their hosts for 169, before James Suett (48 not out) was joined by Richard Green (86 not out) in an undefeated third-wicket stand of 133.

Hadleigh, meanwhile, whittled out Woodbridge & OW for only 89, with James Gilderson returning figures of 13-3-48-6, before knocking off the runs for the loss of one wicket.

The title will be decided on Saturday, with Hadleigh celebrating a return to Division One for the first time since being relegated in 1991.

Josh Davey, who is in his first season as skipper, said: “Left armer James Gilderson bowled really well, and we only used two other bowlers who took two wickets each.

“They have some dangerous batsmen who, if they get going, can score some quick runs, so it was nice to bowl them out cheaply and win the game as well as promotion and not have any pressure on ourselves going into the last game.”

Hadleigh missed out on promotion on the final day of last season, and Davey said: “It would be nice to win the league, but our target at the start of the season was to win promotion.

“Everyone is really pleased and excited about the prospect of Division One cricket next season, after narrowly missing out last year.

“We have got a good group of young players who are capable of playing in Division One, but maybe some new players will want to join us next season.”

Davey, who is just 22, added: “It has been a steep learning curve for me, but everyone has been very supportive in my first year as captain.”

The destination of the Division One title remains undecided and will go down to the wire, after both Woolpit and Mildenhall won, to leave Woolpit nine points ahead entering the final round of matches.

Woolpit overpowered Maldon by 65 runs, captain Craig Rutterford (76) and Mike Jones (73 not out) providing the platform for their 256 for six.

Although Jamie Glenn scored 76 in reply, he lacked support as Andy Northcote took four wickets to add to his earlier 39 runs.

Essex batsman Tom Westley scored his maiden century for Mildenhall in their 130-run victory over Lakenheath.

Azeem Ghumman struck 51 not out from just 22 balls and Ben Shepperson fell for 63 as Mildenhall piled up 310 for five. Westley then took four for 62 and skipper Steve Lankester three for 28.

There was a run-fest at Mistley, where Michael Griggs smashed 142 not out off 76 deliveries as the home team scored 377 for five.

Griggs and Stuart Dove (57 not out off 43 balls) set a new record sixth-wicket stand in any division of 178.

Haverhill replied with 253 for nine, meaning a total of 630 runs were scored in 100 overs.

Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship

DIVISION ONE

Coggeshall 208 for 7 (A Stockton 74no, R Cross 55). *Ipswich 205 (D Hondo 65, J Rusby 40, D Watling 27, R Cross 6 for 60, C Bragg 3 for 54). Coggeshall (20pts) bt Ipswich (8pts) by 3 runs.

Exning 194 (O Fowlston 54, D Hayward 35, P Woods 34, M Catley 34, D White 4 for 44, E Kunarajah 3 for 43) *Elmstead Grasshoppers 196 for 4 (D Sargeant 72, D Harris 62no, J Elliott 25). Elmstead Grasshoppers (20pts) bt Exning (6pts) by 6 wkts.

Frinton 229 for 5 (T Sinclair 62no, M Armstrong 57, R Reifer 53, T Moulton 30). *Wivenhoe 231 for 6 (C Rule 44, B Godleman 43, M Durrell 31, A Ling 25, R Savill 22, O Morgan 20no, R Reifer 3 for 57). Wivenhoe (17pts) bt Frinton (8pts) by 4 wkts.

*Mildenhall 310 for 5 (T Westley 120, B Shepperson 63, A Ghumman 51noF Bester 41). Lakenheath 180 (M Reeve 51, T Westley 4 for 62, S Lankaster 3 for 28). Mildenhall (20pts) bt Lakenheath (6pts) by 130 runs.

*Mistley 377 for 5 (M Griggs 142no, K Young 88, S Dove 57no, J Scott 30, K Robb 28). Haverhill 253 for 9 (A Gupta 49, A Phillips 39, L Youngs 34, B Wilkins 28, J Boulton 26, B Leeke 3 for 47). Mistley (19pts) bt Haverhill (7pts) by 124 runs.

*Woolpit 256 for 6 (C Rutterford 76, M Jones 73no, A Northcote 39, W Parker 31, T Pugh 3 for 95). Maldon 191 for 9 (J Glenn 76, J Ainscough 34, A Northcote 4 for 47). Woolpit (19pts) bt Maldon (7pts) by 65 runs.

DIVISION TWO

Braintree 299 for 5 (R Jones 130, C Leech 39, W Jackson 37, R Vickery 29, W Celiz 21no). *Abberton 156 for 8 (R Moxon 49, M Johnson 36, J Gallant 27, J Foyster 3 for 18). Braintree (19pts) bt Abberton (5pts) by 143 runs.

Brightlingsea 92 (R Dowman 23, I Reed 8 for 34). *Brockley 94 for 0 (B Jeffrey 53no, S Fisher 33no). Brockley (20pts) bt Brightlingsea (0pts) by 10 wkts.

*Dunmow 183. Easton 187 for 8. Easton (20pts) bt Dunmow (8pts) by 2 wkts.

*Ipswich & ES 169 (R Glassford 31, S Worne 29, J Wakelin 3 for 55). Witham 170 for 2 (R Green 86no, J Suett 48no). Witham (20pts) bt Ipswich & ES (4pts) by 8 wkts.

*Woodbridge & OW 89 (S Hall 30, B Foreman 24, J Gilderson 6 for 48). Hadleigh 93 for 1 (M Dias 34, K Ellis 29no, T Piddington 22no). Hadleigh (20pts) bt Woodbridge & OW (0pts) by 9 wkts.

*Worlington 188 for 8 (A Watson 52no, C Thompson 31, J Watson 24, T Osborn 23, C Baugh 22, J Beaumont 3 for 48). Mildenhall II 180 for 9 (L Turner 52, T Allen 47, P Marston 3 for 61). Worlington (19pts) bt Mildenhall II (8pts) by 8 runs.

DIVISION THREE

Bury St Edmunds II 208 for 9. *Halstead II 212 for 4. Halstead II (19pts) bt Bury St Edmunds II (7pts) by 6 wkts.

*Coggeshall II 203 for 9. Stowmarket 201 for 9. Coggeshall II (19pts) bt Stowmarket (9pts) by 2 runs.

*Kelvedon & Feering 246 for 9. East Bergholt 189 for 9. Kelvedon & Feering (19pts) bt East Bergholt (8pts) by 57 runs.

*Little Bardfield Village 225 for 3. Felixstowe 138 for 8. Little Bardfield Village (19pts) bt Felixstowe (3pts) by 87 runs.

*Sudbury II 169, Copford 129. Sudbury II (20pts) bt Copford (7pts) by 40 runs.

Yoxford 186 for 6. *Long Melford 119. Yoxford (20pts) bt Long Melford (4pts) by 67 runs.

DIVISION FOUR

*Clacton II 202. Copdock & OI II 191 for 8. Clacton II (19pts) bt Copdock & OI II (9pts) by 11 runs.

*Hadleigh II 226 for 7. Earl Stonham 183 for 8. Hadleigh II (19pts) bt Earl Stonham (7pts) by 43 runs.

Ipswich & ES II 184 for 7. *Witham II 188 for 2. Witham II (18pts) bt Ipswich & ES II (5pts) by 8 wkts.

Mistley II 149 for 9. *Frinton II 150 for 4. Frinton II (19pts) bt Mistley II (4pts) by 6 wkts.

Woolpit II 171. *Needham Market 172 for 6. Needham Market (20pts) bt Woolpit II (6pts) by 4 wkts.

DIVISION FIVE

Elmstead Grasshoppers II 200. *Kelvedon & Feering II 144. Elmstead Grasshoppers II (20pts) bt Kelvedon & Feering II (7pts) by 56 runs.

*Harwich & Dovercourt 231 for 5. Tuddenham 232 for 3. Tuddenham (17pts) bt Harwich & Dovercourt (6pts) by 7 wkts.

*Mildenhall III 181 for 5. Maldon II 182 for 5. Maldon II (17pts) bt Mildenhall III (6pts) by 5 wkts.

St Margarets 124. *Great Bromley 128 for 1. Great Bromley (20pts) bt St Margarets (1pt) by 9 wkts.

Wivenhoe II 241 for 7. *Bury St Edmunds III 146. Wivenhoe II (20pts) bt Bury St Edmunds III (5pts) by 95 runs.

DIVISION SIX

*Braintree II 244 for 7. Haverhill II 245 for 9. Haverhill II (18pts) bt Braintree II (9pts) by 1 wkt.

*Brightlingsea II 195 for 6. Nacton 148. Brightlingsea II (20pts) bt Nacton (5pts) by 47 runs.

DIVISION SEVEN

East Bergholt II 249 for 6. *Copford II 108 for 9. East Bergholt II (19pts) bt Copford II (4pts) by 139 runs.

DIVISION EIGHT EAST

*Eye & District 251 for 5. Easton II 166 for 9. Eye & District (19pts) bt Easton II (5pts) by 85 runs.

Sudbourne Hall 154 for 7. *Ipswich IV 157 for 6. Ipswich IV (18pts) bt Sudbourne Hall (6pts) by 4 wkts.

DBSL 173 for 9. *Worlingworth 174 for 4. Worlingworth (19pts) bt DBSL (5pts) by 6 wkts.

DIVISION EIGHT WEST

*Battisford 190 for 8. Haverhill III 191 for 8. Haverhill III (19pts) bt Battisford (8pts) by 2 wkts.

Walsham-le-Willows 338 for 3. *Lakenheath II 69. Walsham-le-Willows (20pts) bt Lakenheath II (1pt) by 269 runs.

LADIES’ T20

Felixstowe 89 for 7. *Mistley 90 for 3. Mistley (18pts) bt Felixstowe (4pts) by 7 wkts.

Mistley 109 for 7. *Felixstowe 112 for 0. Felixstowe (18pts) bt Mistley (5pts) by 10 wkts.

DIVISION C

Coggeshall 228 for 7. *Ipswich 229 for 3. Ipswich (18pts) bt Coggeshall (6pts) by 7 wkts.

*Frinton 301 for 7. Clacton 232. Frinton (20pts) bt Clacton (8pts) by 69 runs.

Mistley 143 for 5. *Brightlingsea 144 for 5. Brightlingsea (17pts) bt Mistley (4pts) by 5 wkts.

LADIES CHALLENGE

*Woolpit 263 for 6. Cambridge NCI 94 for 9. Woolpit (19pts) bt Cambridge NCI (5pts) by 169 runs.

LADIES T20

Bury St Edmunds v Maldon. Bury St Edmunds (20pts) bt Maldon (0pts) by concession.

Frinton 149 for 3. *Felixstowe 118 for 8. Frinton (19pts) bt Felixstowe (6pts) by 31 runs.

*Denotes home team