Maldon 5th team made the short journey along the A12 to play Upminster 7’s the weather that day had been a bit of a mixed bag and we were grateful to be getting a game in on Coopers Coburn schools artificial.
Captain Paul Gregory one the toss and decided that we would have a bat, he utilised the youth and experience well in his batting line up, sending out Mason Foakes and Mike Smith to open these 2 made a solid start and Mason was looking a solid bet until a loose shot meant he skied one which Upminsters young keeper did well to take looking into the cloudy sky with a swirling ball, this brought Will Savill to the crease and he looked to up the run rate trying to play some expansive shots but finding the fielders.
These two youngsters look a good prospect for the future, while this was going on Mike Smith was steadily scoring runs at the other end, when Will was out another of the more experienced players came to the crease in Andy Phipps and after a couple of lusty blows, he was out to a full toss, picking out mid-on.
Jason Morgan was the next batting partner for Mike Smith, these 2 kept the scoreboard ticking over and Smith was applauded by the rest of his team when he reached 102 with a single to square leg at which point he retired. Paul Gregory joined Morgan at the crease and the scoreboard kept ticking over.
The young Upminster bowling attack picked up wickets regularly from here and Maldon finished there innings on 214/6 off 40 overs.
After a short break for tea it was back to youth and experience in the bowling attack with Charlie Reeve being with good pace and being unlucky not to pick up a wicket in his 5 overs supporting Mikel Newman who showed his experience with the ball by picking up the 2nd Upminster wicket. The first having been a good run out by Will Savill who demolished the stumps from close in, I think just to make sure.
The opening pair were replaced by youth and experience again with Callum Figg and Dave Richardson coming on, and even with a break for rain a flurry of wickets follower with Callum claiming 2 victims off of his 5 overs and only going for 9 runs with both wickets clean bowled one a good yorker and the other hitting g the top of off-stump. At the other end, Dave Richardson claimed 5 wickets with 3 being bowled and 2 caught, one a good catch at slip by Smith and Figg taking the other giving him 2 catches in the match.
With one wicket requires to seal the win the skipper passed the ball to Will Savill and he duly obliged taking the last wicket and Maldon had bowled the opposition out for 60 winning by 154 runs.
Although this was a comprehensive victory for Paul Gregory and his team, Upminster put up a good fight and have a lot of promise in some of the youngsters playing in that team.
Report courtesy of Mike Smith.
Maldon Cricket Club 
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