Magnificent Macca Guides Ones To Victory

Maldon turned up at East Bergholt on a damp and overcast Saturday looking to put behind them last weeks frustrating defeat to Hadleigh.

After losing what seemed like a very important toss Maldon were unsurprisingly inserted on a wet wicket. Batting was always going to tricky and posting a score of anything over 160 would be competitive.

Despite losing an early wicket, early contributions of 25 and 23 from Jimmy Ainscough and Ian Elliott were to prove valuable. A partnership of 56 between the reliable Mackenzie Jones and an impressive Matt Coppen then took Maldon to 136 for 4 when Coppen was unfortunately run out.

Jones continued to battle through and fell for 47 agonisingly short of a well deserved half century. Just like the week before the innings was finished off importantly by Matt Anderson 24 and Ross Walpole 19 and a more than competitive total of 200 was posted. With the only setback being a hamstring injury to Anderson meaning he was unable to field. Luckily with the third eleven game called off and future starlet Finn Jones in attendance he was able to act as a more than competent replacement.

In reply Maldon got off to just the start they wanted as both Matt Wild and now Mackenzie Jones with the ball tore through the Bergholt inform top order with magnificent and unplayable opening spells that reaped 2 wickets each and left East Bergholt languishing at 43-4.

As in previous weeks one batsman looked to thwart Maldon’s dominance in this case it was former Maldon coach Neil Foster’s son Sam who looked increasingly dangerous.

Much to Maldon’s delight Elliott’s first over into the attack halted his march on 64 when Max Bryant took an outstanding diving catch at long on which then in turn led to both Elliott 3 for 9 and Jones in his second spell 4 for 35 racing through the remaining Bergholt batsman and therefore winning the game by 66 runs.

A well-deserved victory for Maldon who in recent weeks have had much the better of games with little reward. Next week Maldon will look to follow up against Worlington at Drapers Farm.