Polyak top-scores as Woolpit clinch one-wicket win over Wivenhoe

Woolpit bowler Barry Collins, who took the important wicket of Brendon Louw and later scored the winnig runs at No. 11 against Wivenhoe. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

It is already looking very tight at the top of Division One, with only one team – leaders Witham – having won as many as three of their first five fixtures.

Five teams are currently sitting on two victories, including Woolpit and Wivenhoe following a match of fluctuating fortunes.

Wivenhoe captain Matt Durrell won the toss and elected to bat, but his side failed to kick on from a good start as they limped to 176 for six off 50 overs.

Durrell (20) and Jordan Nicholls (53) put on 51 for the first wicket, Nicholls going on to strike six fours in his patient knock off 107 balls before he was third out with the score on 113.

South African danger-man Brendon Louw, who had scored a century last Sunday, just 24 hours after taking a remarkable nine wickets in Wivenhoe’s win over Frinton 2nds, had already been dismissed cheaply for seven, but useful contributions from Jakob Kelly (26) and Michael Canavon (21 not out) boosted the visitors’ total to 176.

There was some tight bowling, particularly from spinner Barry Collins (7-2-17-1), all-rounder Chris Wells (10-1-22-1) and opening bowling Alex Jackson (9-1-27-1).

Woolpit lost both their openers relatively early on, Oliver Whiteman (11) and skipper Will Parker (23) back in the pavilion with the total on just 37.

However, the home side were very much in the driving seat after Corey Polyak and Karl Holmes (18) put on 50 for the third wicket, and Polyak and Wells (18) then added 74 for the fourth.

Overseas player Polyak went on to make 87, off 106 balls, with four sixes and nine fours, before he was caught by Canavon off fast bowler Joseph Nicholls.

Both Polyak and Wells fell with the score on 161, Wells becoming one of spinner Louw’s three wickets. Louw finished with figures of 10-2-24-3.

Having needed just 16 runs to win, with seven wickets in hand, Woolpit suddenly collapsed in dramatic fashion, Liam Holyman taking two late wickets to leave the home side on 174 for nine, still three runs short of victory.

However, the last wicket pairing of David Grant and Collins saw Woolpit home by one wicket, with four overs in hand, Collins striking the winning boundary.

Elsewhere in Division One, Ipswich beat Hadleigh by 67 runs in the Suffolk derby at Clay Hall Farm.

Ipswich’s top three batsmen all made big contributions as the hosts rattled up a total of 258 for six off their 50 overs. Rob Southall struck a quickfire 30 at the top of the innings, before fellow opener Nicholas Johnson (61) and wicketkeeper Mark Burch (57) added 90 for the second wicket.

Both Chris Norton (36) and Damien Smith (33) kept the scoreboard ticking over in the middle order, while there were three wickets apiece for the Hadleigh duo of Thomas Piddington (10-2-52-3) and Kieran Cloud (10-1-60-3).

Hadleigh were always struggling in their reply, eventually being dismissed for 191 in 48.5 overs. Piddington top-scored with 53 at No. 6.

There were three wickets each for Damien Smith (10-3-25-3), Southall 98-0-39-3) and Jack Elford (9-0-32-3). It was Ipswich’s second win of the summer.

Defending champions Elmstead are rock bottom of Division One, and are the only club still searching for a win after a heavy defeat at Halstead by nine wickets.

Elmstead were skittled out for just 100 in 33.5 overs, losing top order batsmen Elliot Mann, Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Vickery for ducks. In fact, only opener Jordan Elliott stuck around, scoring 41 of the 100 runs with a six and six fours. He achieved this off just 36 balls before he was fourth out with the total on 54.

Joshua Wells was the chief destroyer, ending with superb figures of 8.5-5-10-5. Wells took all of the last five wickets, after opening bowler Ed Clark had made the early inroads with four for 37 off 10 overs.

Chris Huntington blasted an unbeaten 81 off just 61 balls to see Halstead to victory off 20.2 overs.