Mildenhall 1XI hosted Sudbury in a local derby at Wamil Way. This was a 50 over a side fixture. The away side looked very strong on paper and they were very strong on the green grass of Mildenhall. Mildenhall won the toss and sent the opposition into bat. That was about as good as it got for Mildenhall. Mansfield (12) was dismissed by Tom Allen but that only just begun a period of misery for the home side. Tom Huggins was joined by Darren Batch for a monumental stand that pour pained upon the Yellow and Black attack. Huggins never looked in any trouble and his class oozed 109 runs before he was run out by Hussain. Huggins faced 120 balls and hit 10 fours and 4 sixes. Batch just kept on scoring runs and wasn't to be stopped. Batch finished on 130 not out from 151 balls hitting 11 fours and 5 sixes. Ben Parker was Tom Allen's second victim for 4. The bowling figures for Mildenhall read like a James Herbert novel (if you haven't read him I recommend 'The Rats'). Tom Allen took 2-89 but it was Peter Worthington that was a beacon of hope and light for the home side. While others were smashed to all parts Peter bowled his 10 overs for a miserly 17. Matt Allen bowled 9 overs for 81, Jack Bowman bowled 6 overs for 45. That old master Murtaza bowled his 10 overs for a relatively paltry 35 and lastly Ben Shepperson bowled his 5 overs for 30. Sudbury finished on 305 for 3 from their 50 overs. While trying not to be too pessimistic I don't think many people would have bet their mortgages on Mildenhall chasing down that target.

Mildenhall started well with Worthington in fine form. The problem was that Peter couldn't keep going, Peter rode the bowling hard and fast with some spectacular highlights but it was all too brief. Peter was spent on 29 from 22 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. Tom Heywood was out for 2 and Matt Allen 7. Ben Shepperson found some form with 33 from 42 balls. Tom Allen scored 8. If you want a man to last you ask for Murtaza and the veteran with the staying power lasted 59 balls during his innings of 25. Alex Lack scored 23 and impressed the local support before he was dismissed. Mildenhall finished on 153 all out from 44 overs. Gallagher took 3-19, Huggins took 1-19, Melton 2-17 and Reece 2-48. Mildenhall should be pleased with their first season back in the EAPL. A season of survival with limited resources should be considered as a successful first season for the Suffolk club.

And so we move onto the 2XI. Mildenhall travelled to Kelvedon & Feering on Saturday and received a right good thumping. Mildenhall batted first and were bowled out for 119 from 41.3 overs. Squire top scored with 33, Jon Allen scored 22 and Ed Finnis 18. The rest of the scorecard was full of single digit numbers. Watts took 3-35, Smith 3-30 and Pepperell took 5-22.

Kelvedon & Feering knocked off the runs in 26 overs. Parsons came on down with 59 (that's a real old school reference to Nicolas Parson's, I doubt many people would get that one). T Smith with 20 and Potter 26 not out. Kelvedon only losing 2 wickets. There were wickets for Jon Allen and Raeel. Martin Taylor bowled economically with only 18 runs coming from his 7 overs.

Shall we move on? Mildenhall 3XI travelled the long distance to Coggeshall. On a personal note I wish we hadn't bothered.  Both sides were understrength. Coggeshall batted first. There were contributions from McNabe (34) and Goding 42. Smart scored 35 and Speakman scored 37. Martin Kingdon was unlucky, his 15 overs costing 34 runs. He could have taken several wickets in the Coggeshall innings but he was to take a few wickets during Mildenhall's innings. Gary Du Plooy was the star with the ball. The veteran from Fordham bowled 11 overs taking 5-52. Gary bowled some excellent balls and some utter filth. Alex Cruickshank took a quick fire 3-10 from 4 overs. Coggeshall finished on 190 for 9 from their 45 overs.

At one stage Mildenhall were in total control. Skipper Thurston and Clark were taking Mildenhall to an easy win. Mark make a bad mistake on 35 and this swung the game in Coggeshall's favour. At this point in the report I want to highlight the importance to all scorers. Please, please, please, please pay attention when scoring. And to the youngster that was scoring during my brief 3 ball innings please be aware that I drove one to mid off and RAN 1!!!!!!!! I appreciate it is only 1 RUN but for the love of the game just pay attention. I will find you whoever you are and you will be sent on a course that will change your life, you will be mentored, you will be trained, you will want to feel like your life has no meaning and at this moment in time YOUR LIFE HAS NO MEANING!! Anyway, enough about me and my 1 RUN. Freddie Tucker batted well for his 34 before he was stumped. Mildenhall finished with 172 from 45 overs. Cameron took 3-35, Morris 2-41 and Martin Kingdon took 3-0 ;o) Only joking Killer there is nothing wrong with being a bowling umpire but please understand the following point which I will make only once and I will make it clearly. You must appreciate just how frustrating it is when you have given a total of 5 LBW's in your Mildenhall playing career (28 years) and one of your own players gives 3 in one innings. I'm not suggesting you are wrong for a second because you were not but I'm sure you can appreciate that occasionally the frustrations of a season that has been poor on a team and personal level boil over to the point that you would hurl (the irony of me hurling anything) your drinks bottle at the wall. Revenge is a dish served cold and thankfully I have a long memory and a mindset colder than a Stark cod piece.

Let's get back to the cricket. The 4XI took on Felixstowe at Mildenhall. Andy Francis and Mick Saunders started well. Andy scoring 38 and the Hammer 23. Mildenhall's number 3 batting sensation and Secretary par excellence Steven 'Boney' Bone scored 25. Lou Handy was not out 28 and Craig Warren scored 21. Mildenhall finished on 195 for 7 from their 45 overs. This should have been a competitive score on the tricky 2nd square.

Unfortunately Felixstowe didn't have too much trouble chasing the total down. Bennett (45) and Boyt 64 not out were the main run scorers. Felixstowe reached the target from 40 overs for the loss of 3 wickets.

Hit after hit...here comes Mildenhall's Sunday 1XI. Mildenhall batted first and enjoyed themselves. Ben Shepperson finding some fine form. Ben hitting 127. Reuben Handy scored 31 before he was run out, Steve Graham matched Reuben with 31. Jack Loveday hit 39. Couple of 0's for Colby and Clark. Tom Heywood finished on 23 not out. Mildenhall finished on a competitive 275 for 6 from their 40 overs.

Sadly it wasn't enough. Woolpit reached the target from 38.2 overs for the loss of 4 wickets. Crudeli with 118 not out, 'Action' Jackson with 48 and C Wells with 49 not out. There were wickets for Loveday (2), Ash Clark 1 and Oakley Colby (1). This is all getting a bit disappointing now and a bit repetitive.

Finally, some good news. Mildenhall ladies won't ever let you down. Mildenhall ladies will raise us up here, Mildenhall ladies will give us a smile to warm our spirits..Mildenhall ladies? Ladies? Oh ***! Mildenhall ladies took on Woolpit in a T20 match. Mildenhall reached 93 from 20 overs. Kim scored 10, Angela scored 13 and Lucy scored 17. Mildenhall lost 9 wickets. Woolpit reached the target with 9 balls to go. Beth Absolon went on, and on, and on for her 37, Lottie Kent scored 16. Wickets for Kayleigh (1), Helen (2), Paige (1) and Angela (1).

And so there are only 2 more games to go. Thank goodness for that. I hope nobody takes any offence from this weekends match reports I am just attempting to find any shred of humour in very difficult times. It would be lovely to report on some wins in the last couple of weeks.

As in victory, ducks and defeat.

JT