4s Suffer First Defeat

On a wet and overcast Saturday both captains agreed to play a 30 over match and wait and see if the light rain that was falling stopped.

After half an hour this positive attitude was rewarded and Woodbridge, having won the toss, walked in to face the Maldon attack. Kian Woolston struck early and bowled the opening batsman.

Callum Figg and Kian bowled in a good partnership with both bowling well to restrict the scoring to just 24 off of the first ten overs with Callum picking up more maidens. Following a couple of dropped catches the Woodbridge batsman started to score freely until Dave Richardson picked up the first of his five wickets.

Dave Blackboro and Dave Richardson bowled well together picking up seven wickets between them and restricted the scoring. Henry Miler and William Hayes both contributed to a run out and along with a stumping by Joe Figg the Woodbridge batsman were all out for 134 inside the 30th over.

The bowling attack has now taken 87 wickets out of the possible 90 this season. This is an incredible statistic and is the reason why the team are top of the table.

Chasing 135 to win, Maldon were well set after the half way drinks break having lost no wickets for 56 runs. Unfortunately in the first over after drinks, both openers, Steve Brown (22) and Henry Miller (30) were caught in the deep and behind the stumps respectively.

This brought Oliver Hull and Mark Thorn to the crease. As a result of accurate bowling and a damp outfield, the run rate increased and when both were out with two overs remaining, Maldon required 24 runs to win. Hull scoring 29 and Thorn 22. Unfortunately Joe Figg (7*) and Alan Johnson (3*) could not knock them off and Maldon finished their 30 overs on 124/4 and lost by 10 runs.

The team has come a long way this season and everyone was disappointed not to have won a game that they should have won. It is this attitude that has pushed Maldon to the top of Division 9 with 8 wins from their 9 games to date.

At the half way stage they are right in the mix and host St Margaret’s at The Prom on Saturday, looking to bounce back.