First XI Beaten By Coggeshall

After an important win last week against Haverhill, Maldon travelled to Coggeshall hoping to inflict a second defeat on them this season.

Maldon won the toss and elected to field on an unsettled day. Great opening spells from both Matt Wild and Mackenzie Jones were left unrewarded as Coggeshall made a steady start with a half century opening stand.

The first wicket was picked up by this season’s new recruit Jack Bowen, who then proceeded to remove two more Coggeshall top order batsman including their highly successful and dangerous overseas player Isma-Eel Gafieldien.

In a highly effective and consistent spell all three wickets were well taken by stand in wicket keeper Ross Walpole and when captain Pugh also chipped in with a wicket, in his tight spell, Coggeshall were needing to rebuild at 79-4.

Despite the consistent bowling of the whole Maldon attack no more wickets fell for another 89 runs as Coggeshall rebuilt their innings at a conservative rate. With Jones and Ian Elliott both unlucky with the ball it was left to a fine finishing spell from Wild with two deserved wickets to leave Coggeshall at a below par 214 for 7.

After arguably one of Maldon’s best all-round bowling displays of the season.

In reply Maldon felt confident of chasing down the total but tight opening spells from the Coggeshall opening attack brought them the wicket of Walpole and back into the game.

At various stages of the innings Maldon looked to be building up a partnership that would chase down the total but unfortunately Max Byrant 31, Elliott to a brilliant catch 24 and Jones 33 all fell after promising starts and that left the tail end with too much to do.

After Cameron Blackboro was unluckily run out at the non strikers end and Joe Bird also like Blackboro on first team debut fell for an entertaining and destructive 27 with two massive sixes the game was up and Maldon eventually finished all out for 154 and 64 runs short of their total.

Next week Maldon will host league leaders and local rivals Witham at the farm looking to bounce back.