Mildenhall Cricket Club match reports for July 16th and 17th 2016
Mildenhall 1st X1 completed a first double of the season when they beat Braintree by 104 runs at Wamil Way on Saturday. Mildenhall won the toss and openers Steve Taylor and Ryan Clark found run making difficult as Braintree’s opening bowlers Quincy Titterton and Josh Newman bowled in conditions favouring some early movement. Braintree had their first success when Clark (15) got strangled leg side by Titterton and Warren Celiz gratefully accepted the edged catch. Peter Worthington (4) then made an early departure as he appeared to give catching practice to the slips and Dean Bass caught him off Gareth Fisher. Ben Shepperson went in to bat at Number 4 looking to arrest his poor run of league form. He soon got in his stride and punished anything loose. With Taylor the pair added 51. When the Mildenhall score had reached 109 in the 21st over Taylor drove Bass’s first delivery to cover and was out for 45. Luke Youngs and Shepperson then added another 50 in 10 overs before Braintree introduced Geoff Eveling into the attack and for the second time in the afternoon a bowler took a wicket with his first delivery when Shepperson edged the ball through to wicketkeeper Celiz. Shepperson made 65 including 10 boundaries in an innings that recovered his form. Luke Youngs went on to make 30 before he gave a soft catch to Fisher off Eveling in the 36th over. Mildenhall held their nerve as the Allen brothers Tom and Matt took the score passed 200. Tom Allen (19) was out lbw trying to force thing along and Hamzah Ikram (8) never looked comfortable and was the 7th wicket to go down on 227 when he was bowled by Titterton. Kyle Morrison joined Matt Allen and the pair ensured the home team set a tough challenge as the score went passed 250. Trying to score quickly however saw the undoing of Matt Allen as he tried to pull Robbie Spalding and was out lbw for a sound 36. Morrison (15) was soon deceived and stumped by Celiz to give Spalding his third wicket. Last man in Martin Taylor playing his first 1st X1 game since the last Olympics, scored one run before he was caught at long on by Dan Garner off Titterton. Mildenhall had been bowled out in the last over for 257. Spalding and Titterton took 3 wickets each for Braintree and the bowlers had been backed up by some excellent ground fielding throughout.
Braintree’s reply began rapidly as Leech and Bass took 24 off the first 4 overs. Mildenhall got their first success in the 8th over when Leech (17) edged Morrison through to wicket keeper Youngs. Then 4 runs later the other opener Bass (14) gave Taylor a wicket when he lofted a shot towards Jack Bowman who caught the ball just above grass level. 10 runs later and Jackson (10) gave a repeat dismissal as Bowman took a second catch off Taylor. Braintree then appeared in trouble when Mildenhall’s first change bowler Tom Allen deceived Titterton (11) and he feathered a catch to Youngs leaving the visitors on 70 for 5. Fisher and Garner attempted to salvage the innings and looked comfortable as they clawed things back adding 68. Shepperson rang the changes with his bowlers. Things then changed when some quick thinking and an accurate throw by Youngs saw Garner (29) run out at the non-strikers end. It then became a matter of how well Mildenhall would win. Morrison returned to bowl at the Wamil Walk end and looking sharper in pace as he took two in two balls. Murphy (4) then lofted Shepperson into the deep but Worthington turned, chased, and took a great catch over his shoulder. Bowman wrapped things up when he bowled Spalding (0) second ball to see Braintree all out for 153. For Mildenhall Morrison returned his best figures of the season with 4 for 39 off 10 overs. (above photo sees him celebrating)
Graeme Jones captured Peter Worthingtons over the shoulder catch on Saturday
Mildenhall retained their position as joint leaders of Division One. Their next home encounter will be against in form and near neighbours Worlington.
Mildenhall 2nd X1 travelled to East Bergholt. They batted first and old war horse Andy Squire returned to his once favoured slot as opening batsman. He was accompanied by a Mildenhall Matador (u19’s) Ashley Clark. The combination proved a success as the pair added 127 in 26 overs. Squire was finally out for 66 while Clark made 54 before succumbing lbw to Kevin Holland. Kieren Davis added 28 before being run out and further support came from Tom Heywood with 22. Steve Graham added 12 and Mark Thurston was not out 10 in a final total of 224 for 8. For Bergholt, Kevin Holland took 5 for 64.
The Mildenhall team completed a fine team performance as 5 bowlers shared the wickets in dismissing the home team for 162 which gave them a 62 run win. Duncan Fraser was the pick taking 3 for 26 while Jon Allen and Matt Heywood got two apiece. Steve Graham took the last wicket.
Mildenhall 3rd X1 had a battle royal away at Woodbridge. The home team batted first and ran up 223 for 6. Captain Andy Zajac took 2 for 50. Mildenhall matched their opponents all the way to the last over when a run out saw the visitor’s fall 5 runs short of victory. 4th X1 captain Lou Handy stepped up a few leagues to top score with 79, James Taylor made 38 and Alex Wilkens scored 31.
Mildenhall 4th X1 received 20 points when their intended opponents conceded on Saturday morning.
On Sunday Mildenhall 1st X1 claimed a new first when they fulfilled two Hunts County Division One fixtures on the same afternoon. In a home fixture Mildenhall took on Woolpit where the visitors posted 206 for 8. Ewan Kingdon was the pick of the MCC bowlers with 3 for 27. Mildenhall made light work of their target. Openers Ben Shepperson 53 and Matt Allen 43 added a quick-fire 80 off the first 10 overs. Kieren Davis 46 and Steve Graham 32 joined in the run fest as Mildenhall coasted home in 24 overs for the loss of 6 wickets. Meanwhile Andy Youngs took a team to Haverhill and elected to bat on the hottest day of the summer. Steve Taylor and Kyle Morrison combined to make a first wicket partnership of 112 in 15 overs. Morrison then departed for 41. Taylor put 3 large 6’s on to the A143 before finally being caught on 121. It was then left to two Mildenhall Matadors to turn the knife. Jon Allen made a half century finishing on 57 not out, while Matt Heywood hit a lusty 44 as the visitors ended on 280 for 2. In the continuing blazing sunshine Mildenhall found it no easier to stop the run riot. Haverhill looked to be out of the game at 72 for 4, however Will Bailey then compiled a century and with good support from Anthony Phillips (40) and Dean Sharpe (25). Haverhill fell just 6 runs short. For Mildenhall Tom Allen and Mark Thurston got two wicket each.
Mildenhall Sunday 2nd X1 were unable to make it a unique day when they lost away at Long Melford. Mildenhall were only able to claim one wicket as the home team ran up 259. Openers Reuben Handy 55 and Steve Grinling 50 set the visitors up, but then a steady loss of wickets saw the 2’s close on 164 for 9.
Mildenhall Ladies were also gifted 20 points when Saffron Walden lLdies conceded their Sunday fixture.