4s Riding High

On a damp and dark early morning, Chairman Steve Brown and Vice Chairman Joe Figg were pleased to see that the covers at Promenade Park had done their job as the wicket was bone dry underneath.

After some grass clearing around the outfield, which if left, would offer little value for money for big drives, the opposition arrived having made the 70 mile round trip to Maldon.

Maldon won the toss and put the opposition into bat. This proved to be a pivotal toss to win as Maldon bowled out Ipswich & East Suffolk for 63 runs thanks to some frugal bowling by the Maldon attack. Once the opening bowlers found their rhythm, wickets fell at regular intervals with batsman making the long journey back to the boundary edge.

Will Hayes and David Blackboro picked up 3 wickets each with good catches being taken all around the field. Al Johnson and Dave Richardson came on to bowl and took three wickets between them, and along with a well taken run out, the innings was wrapped up in just 20 overs.

The Maldon hierarchy decided to mix the regular batting line up. Mark Thorn opened the batting well and steered the home side home with a well made 30. He was handsomely recompensed by playing shots over the outfield to the boundary edge thus avoiding the grassy patches.

This included a huge six which nearly smashed windows in the paddle tennis centre. Wickets fell at the other end, but the win was never in doubt with Steve Brown and Joe Figg in the middle at the end, as they were at the start of the day, to seal a 5 wicket victory and to complete the double over Ipswich in just a few weeks, who made the long journey back to Suffolk.

Another win for the Maldon 4th XI keeps them at the top of the table and chasing promotion. A big thank you to the opposition once again and good luck for the rest of the season.

Maldon are at home again next weekend as they host Woodbridge.