Mildenhall match reports for August 20th and 21st 2016
With four matches remaining to play in this seasons campaign, the supposedly “Mildenhall Juggernaut” looked more like a “Low Loader” as it ground out an unconvincing 35 run win at home against Frinton 2nd X1. Mildenhall 1st X1 were invited to bat first and Joe Reed and Steve Taylor had reached 88 just before the half way point, having been largely contained by 10 overs of medium line and length bowling by Tony Stubbs. Joe Reed was then bowled by Russ Stockdale for 37. Luke Youngs and Taylor then gradually accelerated the score with an 86 run partnership. Taylor had a let off on 49 when a double fumble allowed him to avoid being run out. In the 40th over Taylor (82) was caught by Stubbs off Jack Oakes. Youngs (48) was the 3rd wicket to go down when with the score on 192 he danced down the wicket and was stumped by John Hambrook off Stockdale. Ben Shepperson (15) became Stockdale’s 3rd wicket when he was adjudged lbw. Peter Worthington (28*) and Kyle Morrison (19) quickly added 30 in the next 3 overs as Mildenhall scrambled to towards 250. The innings closed on 255 for 7.For Frinton Stockdale finished with 3 for 40.
When Frinton began their innings, the first over saw Stockdale mistime a shot off Clark and the ball dropped between three fielders. From then on he looked composed and dominated a partnership of 84 with J Fowler. Fowler (14) was the first wicket to fall when he drove Shepperson hard to extra cover straight into the hands of Reed. Frinton continued to compete as Sam Byrnes and Stockdale took Frinton passed 100. The away team had reached 121 by the 27th over when Stockdale, who had impressed in making 70, repeated Fowlers shot and was caught at extra cover with Reed taking a second catch this time off Hamzah Akram. Two balls later Reed struck with the ball when Brynes (22) edged through to Youngs behind the stumps. Reed continued to turn the balance of the match when firstly he trapped Hambrook lbw for 7 and then deceived Matt Heighes (8) who was then stumped by Youngs. This left Frinton on 150 for 5 with 15 overs left. Mildenhall then switched their attack trying to prize out the tail, but surprisingly left their two youngest bowlers side lined. In Taylor’s second spell he uprooted McDevitt (28) stumps. Frinton remained defiant as they collected maximum batting points through Stubbs (22*) and Oakes. Finally Jack Bowman was given a late opportunity and picked up Oakes (12) in the last over to give Mildenhall a 35 run victory. For the second week running Mildenhall had failed to bowl out a team from the bottom half of the league. The upside was despite not performing to their best they still remain top of the Two Counties Division One and strong favourites to win the title following news that their nearest rival Wivenhoe had lost at home to Witham.
Mildenhall 2nd X1 had a facile victory away against a weakened Exning side at their park ground. Exning batted first and lost their first wicket for nought when Jon Allen had Simon Allen caught behind by Ryan Clark. Exning having advance to 33 then lost three wicket for the addition of 2 runs. Tim Catley (19) played around a ball from Allen and was bowled. Kent Thomsett was bowled by Graham for a duck and Kris Judge also got a duck when he gave Graham a catch off Cruickshank’s bowling. The introduction of Matt Heywood saw a cluster of 5 wickets fall for just 6 runs leaving the home team on 78 for 9. A last wicket stand by Vince Colby (11*) and Dom Nelson (33) added 51 allowing Exning to salvage one batting point. Jon Allen took 3 for 27 and Matt Heywood 3 for 36. In reply Exning took the early wicket of Taha Ahmed (11) but this proved to be the prelude to some aggressive hitting by Steve Graham ably assisted by Ryan Clark. Graham was out close to the end for 66 (see photo) while Clark remained unbeaten on 42 as Mildenhall passed their required total in the 17th over. The win edged the 2nd X1 up into 4th place in Division Two.
Mildenhall 3rd X1 put in an impressive home win with a 4 wicket win over Elmstead 2nd X1. The visitors batted first and posted 200 for 6. Andy Zajac took 2 for 38 and Jem Bayes picked up 3 for 36. Alex Lack got Mildenhall off to a good start in making 51. Steve Grinling joined in with 30. Andy Zajac 40* and Mark Thurston 28* then saw their team home with an unbroken 70 run partnership.
A much changed Mildenhall 4th X1 were unable to emulate the other sides when they lost their away fixture at Halstead. Batting first they posted 134 all out with Viq Ahmed top scoring with 33. Mick Saunders opened and made 25. Mildenhall made their opponents fight to the 39th over to secure an 8 wicket win. Mildenhall Ladies player Helen Atkinson was the standout bowler with figures of 17 overs 7 maidens and conceding 31 runs. Two young teenagers, George Howard and Jess Walters took a wicket a piece.
Mildenhall Sunday 2nd X1 had a battle royal away at Edwardstone. The home team batted first and made 205 for 6. For Mildenhall Jack Horn and Steve Ready each took two wickets. In reply opener Steve Grinling scored 27.However the match was lost when Jordan Francis chopped onto his stumps having scored 98 and Mildenhall closed their innings 9 runs short.
Mildenhall Sunday 1st X1 remained unbeaten when their season ended with a 7 wicket away victory at Bury St Edmunds. Bury totalled 222 for 6 after 40 overs with Daron Cruickshank top scoring with 62, Glen Boyce made 51 and Hassam Dahar was not out 36.Mildenhall blitzed to their target in 26 overs. Opener Joe Reed hit 75 and it was left to Kyle Morrison (64*) and Steve Graham (55* and 3 stumpings!)) complete the job
Mildenhall Ladies took full advantage of making a rare appearance on the main square at Wamil by inflicting a 45 run win against close table rivals Ipswich ladies. Having starred the previous day with the ball Helen Atkinson turned her attention to batting and was the bedrock of a Mildenhall total of 191 for 3. Helen became the second player on Sunday to just miss a century finishing on 96*. Support with the bat came from Angela Jiggins (33) and Pippa Palmer (24). Mildenhall then restricted Ipswich to 146 for 7, with Captain Kayleigh Francis taking 3 for 34 and Megan Arnold 2 for 16. With one game left the Ladies have an outside chance of winning their league.