Mildenhall Cricket reports for August 13th and 14th 2016.
In their home fixture against bottom of the table Copford, Mildenhall 1st X1 batted first after Captain Ben Shepperson won the toss. Openers Steve Taylor and Joe Reed shared an opening partnership of 41 before a misjudgement by Reed saw Copford’s opening bowler Tim Richards clip the top bails as the batsman played no shot. Luke Youngs took full advantage of his promotion to number 3 for the first time this season and joined Taylor in steadily advancing the Mildenhall total up and passed 100. The home team had reached 127 for 1 after 30 overs. However soon after Copford dismissed Youngs (57) when he drove hard and low straight into the waiting hands of bowler Kieran Savill. In form Ben Shepperson entered at number 4 and it signalled a fierce increase in Taylors run making as he hit Steve Moriarty for 3 successive sixes with the bowler going for 23 in an over. With the score on 183, Shepperson had advanced to 20 before he was bowled by the returning Richards. Matt Allen helped to maintain the run rate as he and Taylor added a further 53 runs. Taylor reached his century with a signature six and was finally the fourth wicket to fall when he uncharacteristically played across a ball from Russell Measor and was bowled for 128. Taylor’s innings saw him go passed 1000 runs in the Two Counties league and his aggregate runs for the club this season passed 1500. Mildenhall’s lower order kept up the run chase which inevitably led to wickets falling. Peter Worthington (6) was caught in the gully by Rob Tuckwell off Measor. Measor then went on to have a golden over as two further wickets fell. Matt Allen (27) was caught by Sinclair and Hamzah Ikram was bowled for 0. Kyle Morrison (16) and Tom Allen (12) kept up the pressure on Copford, while last pair Ashley Clark and Jack Bowman edged Mildenhall up to 299 for 9 in their 50 overs. For Copford Russell Measor having gone for 6 an over in his first six over spell returned to finish with 5 for 77.
When Copford started their innings Mildenhall had an early success when Tom Sinclair(1) pulled Ash Clark high to deep backward square where Jack Bowman dived backwards to take a stunning catch. It was Clark who struck again when he bowled James Bell for 18. Copford soon lost a third wicket when Tom Allen had Mike Kettle well caught by Ikram. With 41 on the board Copford lost their 4th wicket when Bowman bowled Richards for 2. Mildenhall then slightly lost their grip on the game as Pat Geddis and Tuckwell added 52. Tuckwell (25) fell to the second sharp caught and bowled chance of the afternoon, this time taken by Shepperson. Ian Catley joined Geddis and the pair took full of advantage of some loose bowling by Reed and Shepperson to add a further 62. Mildenhall repeatedly switched their attack as they tried to prise out further wickets. Clark returned and trapped Geddis lbw for 73. Worthington induced a fine edge to get Tom Helmer (15) caught behind. Shepperson took Copford’s 8th wicket when Bowman caught Measor (10). The final over saw Ikram uproot Savill’s stumps, but the last pair survived the final 3 balls to deny Mildenhall a point, while Copford secured maximum batting points finishing on 208 for 9. For Mildenhall Ashley Clark finished with 3 for 27. Mildenhall are at home again next Saturday when they take on Frinton 2nd X1.
Mildenhall 2nd X1’s “Jekyll and Hyde” season continued when they easily beaten by 7 wicket at Dunmow. Batting first Steve Graham top score with 35 as Mildenhall collapsed to 92 all out. The last 3 wickets going down on this score. Dunmow reached their target in the 26th over.
Mildenhall 3rd X1 also travelled away and lost by 7 wickets. Theirs however was a more competitive match. Batting first at Needham Market they scored 175 with Jordan Francis (54) top scoring. Lou Handy made 35 and Charles Wilkens his 8 boundaries in his 33. S Mortimer made 68 and S Ward 40 both falling to youngster Freddie Tuckwell as Dunmow secured the win in the 41st over.
On Sunday Mildenhall 1st X1 kept up their undefeated record by beating Battisford by 6 wickets. Battisford batted first at Wamil Way and made 219 for 6. Oakley Colby was the pick of the bowlers taking 4 for 71. Ash Clark (see photo) rounded off a good weekend performance when he made 83 with the bat. Opener Kyle Morrison (44) helped steer Mildenhall on the way with a partnership with Clark of 85. Clark and Steve Graham (28) added a further 63 and Mildenhall were comfortably seen home by Vince Coby 22* and Kiefer Renouf 28*
Meanwhile at the Victory ground in Bury Mildenhall 2nd X1 lost by 5 wickets. Batting first Mildenhall’s Steve Grinling made 114, and Andy Francis (45) shared a 121 partnership with Grinling as Mildenhall reached 210 for 8. Bury through top scorer D Yadev 54* and 49 from Ali Asfar made relatively light of their objective passing the Mildenhall total in the 35th over.