Four Woolpit teams win their games with the 3rd’s poised for promotion

It was a good weekend for the Woolpit Cricket Club’s 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams as all four won on the same day for the first time this season.

The 3rd team could still gain promotion and the 1st team have made their position a lot more stable in Division 1 of the Two Counties Championship.

The 1st beat Worlington 1st XI by 60 runs making it four consecutive wins.

Woolpit elected to bat first in very tricky conditions – the strong wind in particular ensured that both batting and bowling were more challenging than normal.

After seeing off the seam attack of Maynard and Kulasi, Harry Bureau particularly looking comfortable and hitting boundaries the Woolpit batsmen struggled against the spin of Diseko.

An excellent spell of bowling from him took the score from 36 for 0 to 71 for 4, and left him with figures of 4 for 18 from his 10 overs. However, when he had finished, Woolpit looked to develop their score, and with Andy Northcote as ever dropping anchor, they began to reach a score that they felt would be competitive. Northcote was out for 72 and Woolpit finished on 189 for 8 from their 50 overs.

In reply, Worlington openers Kulasi and Ford started really well reaching their 50 partnership in just the 8th over. However, when Kulasi kit a full toss straight back to Wells to be caught and bowled and Ford was caught behind off the bowling of Barry Collins the rest of the batting order struggled to maintain the momentum. In fact, Watson and Diseko were the only other batsmen to reach double figures as their score went from 87-1 to 129 all out.

Pick of the bowlers were Northcote and Freddie Heldriech who both picked up three wickets each as Woolpit secured their victory in the 37th over.

Woolpit 2nd XI beat Stowmarket 1st XI.

After winning the toss and batting first at Stowmarket it looked good for Woolpit who passed 50 for no loss. However Ollie Melville-Ross fell for 45 followed by three more wickets in quick succession to leave the score on 59-4 before firstly Henry Bevan (38) and Stuart Lilley (21) batted sensibly to achieve a total of 141 all out.

Danny Reynolds took the first seven wickets to fall as Stowmarket’s top order reached 56-7.  Dye and C Watling rallied and added 50 for the eighth wicket to get the home side back in the game before George Heldreich returned to claim the final three wickets to give Woolpit a valuable win.

Woolpit 3rd XI beat West Mersea 2nd XI by 8 wickets.

Woolpit fielded first in really difficult weather conditions, the strong gusts of wind stopping players from both sides in their tracks.

Gavin Taylor was the most economical bowler taking 2 for 17 off 15. A good knock from Ian Young (32) and Christopher Warren (40) helped edge West Mersea past the 100 mark. They managed to reach 135 off 45 overs.

West Mersea’s opening bowler, Christopher Warren started his spell well taking two wickets from his first three deliveries. This meant Woolpit’s number four batsman Ben Gale (34 no) had to dig in and stay at the crease to support the number one bat Julian Bradwell (84 no) and get Woolpit to the target. After just 15.5 overs, they done it despite West Mersea’s best efforts.

Woolpit 4th XI beat Worlington 3rd XI by 5 wickets.

Worlington won the toss and batted trying to take advantage of a good looking pitch and the small boundary on one side.

Woolpit bowled a tight line to begin but Worlington’s openers were equal to the task until Andy Deere found the breakthrough running up the hill and into the strong wind. Worlington rallied until a collapse where they lost four wickets with the score on 44. Consistent wickets caused Worlington to slide to a below par 86 all out. Pick of the bowlers were Will West (3-18), Ben Smart (2-2) and Conor Berry (2-9).

Worlington came back strong with experienced duo Cole and Stennett drying up the runs and taking regular wickets between the rain showers. Ben Smart and William Betley eventually saw them off after they had bowled 26 overs. Betley was bowled not long after with Woolpit left on a precarious score of 65-5. Ben Smart continued his mature knock (24*) and saw Woolpit over the line with no further loss of wickets.

Sunday XI lost by 7 wickets to Acton Sunday XI.

Woolpit won the toss and decided to bat first. Acton had a very strong bowling line up and the Woolpit batsmen struggled only Mark Estall (67 off 60 balls) and Marcus West (44) made it past single figures. Steven Fisher posted the best bowling stats taking 3 for 19 off 10. Woolpit ended on 139 all out.

In reply, Acton batsmen S Martin (68) and Dale Brett (40) got stuck in and quickly knocked off the Woolpit total. John Morgan proved the most difficult bowler to get away and took 2 for 26 off five overs but it just wasn’t enough for this match.