Dismal weekend for Woolpit Cricket Club as the top four sides all lose
Woolpit 1stXI suffered another defeat at the weekend at the hands of Witham 1stXI by two wickets.
It was a dismal weekend for the club with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th XIs all losing out.
The only positive result was the T20 XI who beat Bury St Edmunds CC T20 XI by 15 runs with both James Deeley and James Bradwell retiring not out on 51 and 50 respectively from their score of 179. Their opponents were restricted to 164 for 7 with Harry Bureau taking 3 for 25.
Woolpit 1st XI suffered defeat in a very tense battle which went to the last ball of the game.
Batting first, Woolpit openers Will Parker and Andy Northcote put on 54 for the first wicket before the former was given out lbw.
Northcote continued to score steadily and anchor the innings and a 70-run partnership between him and James Bradwell took the score past 100.
Some big hits from Chris Wells in the final over took the score past 200 and to a total of 210 for 7. Northcote finished on 88 not out, whilst pick of the Witham bowlers was Stephens with 3-19.
In reply, despite Parker removing Huntingdon in just the second over, Witham were well above the rate.
Despite taking wickets at important times, there were several partnerships that made it look like Witham were going to reach their target with ease. However, the introduction of spinners Wells and Northcote not only brought wickets, but seriously slowed the scoring rate as well.
Another excellent spell from Alex Jackson meant that as the game progressed into its final 10 overs, both teams were in with a shout of winning.
With one over to go, Witham needed 8 runs to win. Despite losing two wickets within this over, they secured the runs they needed from the last ball. Wakelin and Smith had both made 50, whilst pick of the Woolpit bowlers was Jackson with 2 for 26.
The 2nd XI lost by 68 runs to Long Melford 1st XI.
Long Melford got off to a relatively slow start after losing their first wicket in the second over.
Jason Wade hung around at the crease, scoring 56 before being caught at slip off James Holmes’s bowling (2 for 30).
Joshua Burgess was Melford’s second highest scorer with 28 and he fell to the same fate.
Woolpit’s bowlers worked hard and Stuart Lilley took 3 for 38 but there were a few fielding errors and Melford made the most of these opportunities, finishing on 204 for 8.
Woolpit’s batsmen tried to put the pressure on from ball one, with lots of quick singles but this became the opening partnerships downfall, with a direct hit from James French to run out captain Marcus West.
This left young George Tillbrook at the crease, who scored 21 before being bowled by Billy Byford (2 for 23).
The only other Woolpit batsman to pass the 20-run mark was James Holmes, who hit a quickfire 44 off 33 balls.
Long Melford’s bowlers, bowled tight with John Cole posting their best figures taking 3 for 11. The final score for Woolpit was 136 all out.
Woolpit 3rd XI lost to Felixstowe and Corinthians 2nd XI by 5 wickets. Woolpit scored 124 for 9. Gerry Artindale top scored with 34. Matt Flecknoe was the best bowler taking 4 for 25, which included seven maiden overs. Felixstowe scored 127 for 5. Finn Shepard top scored with 35 not out. Chris Gourlay took 2 for 21.
Woolpit 4th XI lost heavily to Haverhill 3rd XI by 10 wickets. Woolpit scored 38 all out with Simon Hird taking 7 for 12. Haverhill scored 42 with Lauren Swinburne the most economical bowler with three overs for 12 runs.