Mildenhall 1XI took on the dangerous Norwich side at Wamil Way on Saturday. On a dark and damp day at the 'home of cricket' the prospect of a full day's play seemed unlikely. Norwich had first use of the wicket. Kyle Morrison made an early breakthrough when he Higgenbottam for 0. Senaratne was the next to go when he was LBW to Tom Rash for 7. Norwich then gained serious momentum through Jack Newby and Ashley Watson. It was a partnership that looked to take the game away from Mildenhall. Newby's striking was particularly impressive as he hit 69 runs from 64 balls which included 11 fours. Watson was a bit more sedate with his 77 coming off 115 balls and including 8 fours and 1 six. Matt Allen took the important wicket of Newby and Hugo Douglas removed Watson. Sexton (29) and McGeorge (27 Not Out) pushed the Norfolk side onwards. Nowrich finished on 259 from 49 overs before the players had to take an enforced break due to the weather. Mildenhall probably did bowl quite as well as they could have done. The pick of the bowlers were Murtaza with 10-1-31 and Nick Maiolo with 10-1-38. Hugo Douglas contributed 2 wickets from his 7 overs.
Mildenhall 1XI were set a very stiff revised target and many sides would have found the going very difficult but this is not just any side and confidence is high and the team spirit is excellent. I'm had the pleasure of watching many hours of cricket over almost 30 years of playing at Wamil Way and I say without bias or prejudice that the batting I saw from Mildenhall was of the very highest order and up there with the best I have ever seen. Mildenhall were seen as a poor relation in our first outing in the EAPL but this is a different Mildenhall and nobody takes us for granted any more and it is this team and these players that are giving Mildenhall such a great name in the EAPL. This isn't just a winning team but a team that plays with flair and is entertaining to watch. This is a team capable of smashing straight sixes but also whipping balls from outside off through the leg side as if it was a simply 'thrown down'. Curran (6) and Maiolo (10) were dismissed pretty early. What was to come in the next couple of hours thrilled and lifted the gloomy skies in West Suffolk. Joe Reed and James Stamatis batted as well as former batting Gods of Wamil Way such as; Abbs, Squires, Handy and Steve Taylor. Two batsman at complete ease with their games and batting with different styles that complimented each other in a match winning formula. It was Stamatis that showed the initial aggression. 'Fast Hand's' Stamatis playing a plethora of back foot drives, wristy clips of his pads and sweeps looked a class act during a sensational 112 not out of 94 balls. Stamatis hit 17 fours and a sumptuous 6 during his innings. Joe Reed initially played second fiddle to Stamatis but towards the end of the Mildenhall innings his power, class and domination smashed through the day like Thanos having a 'bit of a search for a shiny stone'. Joe Reed hit shots towards the end of the innings that took the wind out of the Norwich attack. Joe finished on 109 not out from 96 balls including 12 fours and 6 monster sixes. Mildenhall reached their target of 255 from 34 overs. Lot's of credit must go to Nick and Ben for creating a great team ethos and let's hope these type of fantastic performances continue and this team develops into the best we have seen at MCC. This week Mildenhall have been granted funding from the heritage lottery and the performance on Saturday will not be forgotten by those that witnessed it and I'm sure it will be successfully archived for posterity.
Mildenhall’s 2XI
fixture away at Clacton was an unfortunate victim of the weather on Saturday.
Mildenhall batted first and Clark (33) and Squire (41) got the away side off to
a good start. Skipper Steve Graham was able to contribute 38. There were
contributions from Loveday (19), Bowman (19) and for symmetrical sake Heywood
(19). Mildenhall finished with 207 from the 45 overs which was a competitive
total. Sheilch took 3-49 from his 15 overs and Grey took 4-78 from his 15 overs
for the Essex coastal side. And that was it, the heavens opened and Mildenhall
made their escape.
Mildenhall 3XI
hosted Nacton at Wamil Way. The match was reduced to 39 overs a side. Nacton
batted first and Connelly produced a fine display of batting. Connelly hit the
first ball of the match for six. Connelly was finally run out by Andy Youngs
for 85. Warner provided fine support with his 24 and Songer scored 23. Nacton
finished on 192 for 8. Martin Kingdon was superb again with another fine
display of fast medium bowling taking 3-38 from 13 overs. There were wickets
also for Martin Taylor (1), Alex Cruickshank (1) and Andy Youngs (2).
Mildenhall lost Clark for 4 but Mark Thurston continued his good form with 33.
Kiefer Renouf was unfortunately LBW for 0 for the second week in a row. Kevin
Pearson (8) and James Taylor (11) came and went. It was left to numbers 8 and 9
to show some fight and application. Alex Cruickshank hit 4 fours in his 37 but
it was that Renaissance man Martin John Taylor who hit 54 not out that almost
won the game for the 3XI. Martin showed all those watching just what a talented
batsman he was, is and could be. Martin could have won the game for Mildenhall
if only he could see! Mildenhall finished 9 runs short of the target for their
first loss of the season.
It was a tough
away day for the 4XI who travelled to West Mersea. Boweres (27) and Taylor (31)
showed promise before they were both dismissed by Ellis. It was Bruce who was
the mainstay of the West Mersea innings with his 68. Luke Ellis took 2-56, Josh
Jones 1-29, Cam Francis 2-45 and Lou Handy 1-28. West Mersea making a good
score of 238 from only 36 overs. It proved to be too much for the 4XI who were
struggling after the loss of Mick Saunders due to injury. Josh Jones (35) and
Lou Handy (26 not out) showed resistance but the rate required was too high and
Mildenhall finished on 106 for 5 from their 36 overs.
The Sunday 1XI
travelled to Mildenhall’s 3XI tomentor Walsham Le Willows on Sunday and a low
scoring match was the outcome. Mildenhall batted first and were all out for 133
from 35 overs. One man was the star…just one man and what a ‘beauty’ of a man.
Murtaza Hussein wrote himself into Mildenhall folklore with an innings of 100,
yes that’s 100 of the 133 that the whole team scored. Thank you Mr. Hussein.
Perhaps he was inspired by Joe and “Fast Hand’s” Stamatis on Saturday. C. Daly
known to his friends as ‘Arthur’ was the main man for Walsham with 5-31. The
total was far too good for Walsham. Tom Allen taking 2-14 and Jack Bowman
2-29…oh hang on someone took 5-12 off 10 overs. Can you guess who it was? Do
you need to phone a friend or has Jeremy Clarkson already given you the wrong
answer and cost you 15 thousand? The answer is of course that absolute beauty
Murtaza Hussein. What a day, what a man and what a beauty! I’m just know
checking how many times I’ve used that word. It is an acceptable amount.
It seems
redundant to provide a match report for the ladies because Lou gives almost a
ball by ball account during his Twitter feed.
Mildenhall ladies batted first and scored 125 for 5 from their 35 overs.
The star being Kim Hancock with 41. There were also contributions from Angela
(10), Kayleigh 13 not out and Emily (must not make a Who joke here) Daltrey
(12). The ladies then produced a magic display with the ball by bowling out
Easton for a paltry 41. Helen took a symmetrical 7-7 from 7 and Kayleigh ruined
my OCD by taking 4-3 off 4.4. Wonderful display from the ladies.