Mildenhall Cricket Club match reports for September 3rd and 4th 2016
Saturday saw Mildenhall 1st X1 win their penultimate game of the season and by doing so winning the Two Counties Championship. Their opponents Hadleigh opted to bat first needing a win to stave off relegation. Things went well for the visitors to start with and they reached the half way point in their innings on 100 for 3.Luke Istead made 73 at a run a ball. The introduction of Joe Reed saw the Hadleigh innings falter. He had both top scorers Istead and Tom Piddington (49) stumped by Luke Youngs. He then took the last 3 wickets for 1 run as Hadleigh were dismissed for 175. Reed finished with 5 for 22 and Hamzah Ikram and Steve Taylor took 2 each. With rain threatening Mildenhall were in a hurry to complete the game. Hadleigh struck very early when Steve Taylor was out lbw to Mark Simmons in the second over. They then took another prize wicket in Joe Reed (Reed had struck 100 in 54 balls in the mid-week match against Marylebone CC) who was caught behind by Jacob Marston off Kyle Tanner for 18. Hadleigh had only set up an onslaught bringing together Luke Youngs and Ben Shepperson. They added 124 in 13 overs with boundaries aplenty. Mildenhall captain Shepperson was finally stumped for 67 having struck 5 sixes and 5 fours. Youngs continued to strike the ball to all parts and with Peter Worthington (9*) they saw Mildenhall home in the 22nd over. Youngs having hit 14 fours was unbeaten on 79. To the delight of the players and home supporters Mildenhall had collected the maximum 20 points and for the first time in their history had won the league title. Celebrations continued long into the night.
Mildenhall 2nd X1 had their local derby with Lakenheath curtailed when rain forced the game to be abandoned. A result that probably favoured Mildenhall. Batting first Mildenhall were dismissed for 145. With face saving innings from number 7 Jack Loveday (52) ably assisted by his captain Andy Youngs (34) batting at 9. For Lakenheath Danny Rodic took 5 for 39. Lakenheath had reached 80 for 2, with Rob Horrex making 49 before the match ended.
Mildenhall 3rdX1 emulated their senior eleven by completing a 7 wicket win on the second square against Felixstowe. The visitors batted first and were dismissed for 90, with B Hopkins (46) contributing over half the runs. Youngsters Gabe Jones 5 for 9 and Jack Horn 3 for 3 did the main damage with Martin Taylor and Andy Zajac taking a wicket a piece. Brothers Alex Wilkens (32) and Charles Wilkens (23) set up a seven wicket win with Jordan Francis (17*) completing the job.
On Sunday Mildenhall 2nd X1 lost by 8 wickets to Risby. Batting first Mildenhall made 158 for 8, with Ash Clark top scoring with 39 and Reuben Handy made 32. Risby made light of their target reaching it in the 21st over with Alex Lack making 60 not out.
MCC Ladies finished it in style. In their final league game they secured second place in the Two Counties Ladies Challenge by beating Woolpit. They set some milestones along the way. Pippa Palmer and Kim Hancock (48) put on 156 for the first wicket. They set their highest score of 261-2 in 35 overs. Pippa Palmer scored her maiden century, finally falling for 111. Helen Atkinson smashed 77 off 34 balls. Kayleigh Francis was the league, top wicket taker for the second year in a row.