Woolpit victorious over Maldon to make it three wins on the trot

Woolpit 1st XI made it three wins on the trot in a close and nail-biting win at Maldon at the weekend.

It was a good couple of days for the club as five of the other sides won their matches with just the 4th XI losing out to Stowmarket.

Maldon lost an early wicket when Alex Jackson had Bryant trapped lbw in the first over. However, it was another 22 overs before another wicket fell, as Elliott and Wild shared a 119 run partnership.

Both these batters reached 50, but when Elliott fell to James Deeley and Wild was caught and bowled by Andy Northcote, Woolpit were back in the game.

The Woolpit bowlers continued to apply pressure in the latter overs, and when the Maldon innings finished on 233 for 7, there was relief that it wasn’t the much higher score that had looked likely earlier in the innings.

In reply, Woolpit were struggling at 24-2 as they swiftly lost openers Will Parker and Oliver Melville-Ross. However, Corey Polyak and Andy Northcote shared 70 for the third wickets before Northcote was caught and bowled by Coker.

Whilst they were always up with the run rate, wickets continued to fall, and it looked like a tight finish would be likely. Ryan Newcombe made sure that he didn’t throw his wicket away, and through partnerships with Harry Bureau, Karl Holmes, and Jackson, made sure that the game went to the wire.

Woolpit eventually hit the winning runs with just two balls and two wickets remaining – Newcombe finishing on 57 not out.

The 2nd XI beat IES 1st XI by 40 runs.

After a solid start from George Tillbrook (22) and Adam Coombes (41) setting a platform of 66-0 the seconds batting proceeded to have it obligatory mini collapse with both players out in the same over before losing a further 4 wickets for 36 runs leaving a precarious position of 105 – 6 before Ollie Whiteman (32) joined captain James Holmes (51) at the crease to begin the rebuild.

Both batsmen then fell to IES’s Mildenhall who took 7-69 from his 15 overs. It was left to Kian Flanagan and Danny Reynolds to see the side past the 200 mark and make sure they batted out all our overs finishing on 214-9.

In reply Alex Packer made the early breakthrough before two strong partnerships took IES to the dreaded Nelson (111), when in the space of two balls Marshall and Pryke were removed with no score added.

This brought Mildenhall to the crease and another partnership commenced, the returning Reynolds then removed Mildenhall bowled and Beaumont run out in quick succession.

This then saw some very disciplined bowling from Packer and Reynolds which stiffled IES’s Bone (76) forcing a false stroke and Alex Routledge catching him off Packer.

Shortly after the game was wrapped up with Reynolds and Packer taking another wicket each resulting in the 2nds finishing victorious by 40 runs. Packer finishing with 3-35 of his 11.

Woolpit 3rd XI v Melton St Audreys 1st XI – Woolpit won by 6 wickets

Woolpit won the toss and elected to field against a weakened Melton team.

Woolpit’s opening bowlers didn’t settle well and after seven overs they had a change, this was the biggest turning point of the innings.

Despite Josh Stokes starting well for Melton, wickets fell around him as he scored 37 before being caught behind by Harry Gale (one of Gale’s four catches).

Jon Block done all the damage with the ball, and ending with the most impressive figures of 5 for 5 off 12 overs and bowling 8 maidens in the process. Melton were bowled out for 124 off 35.3 overs.

Woolpit’s Ben Gale (25) and Merlin Stamper put on a 79-run partnership. Stamper batted well, with his 50 coming off just 55 deliveries and he ended on 64. Melton’s bowlers worked hard. Imogen Sidhu bowling a good line a length but didn’t manage to pick up any wickets, meanwhile her sister Isobel Sidhu and Jothi Barnsley-Sadasavan took two wickets each. Woolpit reached the target set in 25.5 overs.

Woolpit 4th XI v Stowmarket 2nd XI – Stowmarket won by 6 wickets

Woolpit travelled away to local rivals Stowmarket, who won the toss and elected to field. Four of Woolpit’s batsmen got a good start with the bat but no one got a high score. Stowmarket’s Adam Hawes took three wickets for 27 off 9. Woolpit set a target of 154-9 off 40 overs.

Stowmarket’s opening batsmen Nik Mayhew batted well, scoring 93 before being dismissed by captain Jess Board. His innings set Stowmarket up well and they reached the target set in 23.5 overs.

Woolpit Sunday 1s vs Brockley – Woolpit won

Brockley won the toss and batted first with two ex Woolpit players opening the batting in Blackledge and English. Brockley raced to 134-1 at drinks, however with some tight bowling from Will West and Tom Sidhu, Woolpit managed to restrict Brockley to 220.

In reply, Woolpit were always up with the run rate despite the steady loss of wickets with 57 from Gerry Artindale as well as useful contributions from Tillbrook, Luttman Johnson and Coombes saw Woolpit home in the last over.

Ladies 1st XI v Copdock Ladies 1st XI – Woolpit won by 8 wickets

Copdock scored 93 for 9. Beth Quinton scoring 24 and Natalie Samuels taking 5 for 16 off 5.5. Woolpit scored 97 for 2. Jess Board scoring 59.

Ladies 2nd XI v Melton St Audreys 2nd XI – Woolpit won by 3 wickets

Melton scored 95 for 8. Olivia Gaskin retired 30 not out. Most of Woolpit’s bowlers picked up a wicket. Woolpit scored 96 for 5 off just 12.3 overs.