Mildenhall Cricket Club match reports for Saturday 15th and Sunday 15th August 2015.
home matches sponsored by Tony and Jean Cornell
Following the disappointment of last week, the big question was whether Mildenhall 1st X1 could lift their game and keep alive their slender chance of title honours this season. Captain Ben Shepperson followed his familiar pattern and lost the toss. Frinton 2nd X1 took no hesitation in deciding to bat first. The match settled into a phoney war with the Frinton openers Shayne Moseley and Joe Fowler progressing at just over 3 an over for the first 20 overs. , while Mildenhall saw little in the way of chances apart from a couple of shots from Moseley flying high through the slips. Mildenhall’s first wicket came when Fowler (23) nicked one off Mirza Baig straight into the gloves of Eddie Finnis, ending a partnership of 78. Moseley reached 50 before in the 28th over Tony Stubbs (3) edged to give Finnis a second catch, this time off Jon Allen. Joe Hall joined Moseley, they took the score to 121 before Hall (13) hit Jon Allen high toward the outfield only to be caught by Shepperson. Moseley then began to take advantage of his earlier patience and attacked the ball and scoring his second 50 at a run a ball. He and Jermaine Shillingford added 82 in 11 overs. With 203 posted on the scoreboard Moseley finally departed for 113 when he top edged a ball from Jon Steel that Finnis safely put his gloves to. Shillingford (31) was run out with a couple of overs to go and Mildenhall then picked up a further batting point when Tom Benn (15) was trapped lbw to Shepperson on the last ball of the Frinton innings. The visitors finished on 238 for 6.Pick of the Mildenhall bowlers was Jon Allen 2 for 25.
Mildenhall’s reply got off to a shaky start when Ryan Clark (1) was caught behind for 1.This brought in Shepperson, who managed to survive an early edge to slips, before he and his partner Steve Taylor added 80, with Taylor completing his half century. Shepperson (34) then tried to take on Lewis Catlow, only to hit a loose ball from Catlow straight to Joe Fowler at deep mid-on. Mildenhall then became becalmed as Tom Allen struggled to find his touch and Taylor resisted the temptation to loft the spinners. Allen (9) departed caught by Hall off Patel. Andy Squire survived a dropped catch at deep square leg as he tried to accelerate the run chase. He finally made 21 before being caught by Benn off Louis Perrin. By now Mildenhall needed 82 off 11 overs. Jack Loveday joined Taylor and with both batsmen scampering runs as hard as they could they added a further 53 in 8 overs during which Taylor completed his century with a magnificent 6. Loveday (18) was then caught behind by Hall off Perrin and with Jon Steel adjudged lbw soon after it looked like Mildenhall might fall just short for the second week in a row. Twenty runs were needed from 2 overs as Eddie Finnis joined Taylor. Mildenhall could only manage 4 runs in the penultimate over. Down to the last over and 16 required. It was Catlow to bowl to Taylor. The Australian coach was not going to be denied. Faced with fast fading light and a bit of gamesmanship he held his nerve. He took a four and two two’s from the first 3 balls, missed the fourth and then dispatched the fifth to the boundary leaving 4 to win off the last ball. This he sent high over the mid-on boundary for 6 to complete a memorable innings. His delight was for all to see as he lept high into the air before running off to embrace his delighted team mates. Taylor finished not out 146. Frinton were left to ponder on how they had lost in such a hard fought match. With league leaders Sudbury losing Mildenhall still hang onto an outside chance of a title.
Well done Steve......one of the best innings at Wamil Way ever.
Mildenhall 2nd X1 having scored a heavy defeat against league leaders Copford previously, they were left to wonder what the “Whirlwind” was that saw Adam Horrex bowl 20 balls and take 6 wicket for just 2 runs. With Lily Reynolds (33) and Adam Trett (31) helping the team to get off to a reasonable start at Lakenheath they collapsed to 111 all out. Sam Bowers supported Horrex taking 4 for 46. Lakenheath completed the rout winning by 9 wickets. Martin Taylor bowled Steve Tassel for 0 before Dom Palmer (55*) and Shane Leach (48*) added the further 110 required to win.
Mildenhall 3rd X1 entertained Witham 2nd X1 on the second pitch at Wamil Way. Batting first they made an under par 144 for 7. James Taylor made 58 and got a black eye for his troubles. Steve Hunt scored 24 and opener Alex Wilkens made 21. Witham were made to fight all the way to secure victory they lost 7 wickets and took till the 43rd over to win. Opener Duncan Jenkinson led the way with 59, while Tom Garwood saw them home with an unbeaten 32. Stand in Captain Andy Zajac took 3 for 28. A special mention must go to Duncan Fraser who sub fielded on the adjacent for most of the afternoon and then missed his tea in order to field the rest of the day for his own side, “now that’s firefighting”.
Mildenhall 4th X1 recorded a fine win away at Abberton. Batting first they posted 172 for 8. Opener Paul Thurston top scored with 58 while Ewan Kingdon hit his top score of the season with 44.Ewan’s brother Alistair then joined in taking 6 for 51 and Alex Cruickshank gave good support taking 3 for 23 enabling Mildenhall to bowl Abberton out 10 runs short of victory.
On Sunday Mildenhall 1st X1 had a facile victory against a young Hadleigh team. Playing at home Mildenhall bowled out the visitors for 120. Jack Loveday took 4 for 25 and Jon Allen 4 for 26. Jamie Allen picked up the other 2 wickets for 47. In reply Ben Shepperson took full advantage of some dropped catches to make 68. Eddie Finnis finished matters off with an unbeaten 36. The Sunday title beckons for a second year.
Mildenhall Sunday 2nd X1 rattle up a massive 291 for 5. Kieren Davis scored 115 before retiring. Jack Palmer showed his class with 72* and opener Matt Heywood struck 34. Steve Hunt rowed in with 22. In reply British Sugar were bowled out for 137. Kiefer Renouf, Cameron Francis and Raeel Afaal took 3 wickets a piece, while Captain Steve Ready picked up the final wicket. The bowlers were well supported in the field with 9 catches being taken. Jack Palmer’s safe hands held 5 off them.
Mildenhall Ladies recorded a second successive win. At Ipswich they ran up 176 for 7 in their 35 overs. Helen Atkinson top score with 47, Lottie Kent made 32 and opener Pippa Palmer made 24. For Ipswich Sheldene Ford made 44 as her team were restricted to 110 for 9. Atkinson took 3 for 14 while Pippa Palmer and Kayleigh Francis both took 2 wickets.