With the sun shining brightly over Drapers Farm the Maldon 2nd XI were asked to bat first having lost the toss. Opening batters Matt Shinn and Jamie Goldstein put on 10 for the first wicket before Goldstein was caught behind for 2.
Shinn started to play some shots and was soon scoring 4s and 6s. Joe Figg started slowly but soon began to find the boundary himself. Shinn was caught and bowled for 44 runs leaving the score on 72 for 2 in a partnership of 62 with Figg. Figg was then was bowled for 24 runs bringing Jamie Brown and Finlay Jones to the crease.
Brown followed soon after having been well caught down the leg side for 21. Angus Beames joined Jones at the crease and the pair played well, scoring boundaries and quick singles, putting on 38 runs together before Beames was bowled for 21.
Luke Reeve and Jones continued to run well before Reeve was caught for 10 at square leg. Jones was well caught and bowled for 38 runs with the score on 186 for 8. Liam Saxton and Jack Riley fell for 15 and 10 respectively before Henry Miller and Rufus Miller finished the innings setting Needham Market 218 runs to win. This was total that should have been higher due to several batters getting ‘in’ and then getting out. However, the 2nd XI had set a competitive total that was not going to be easy.
The 2nd XI took to the field with the sun still shining bright and moving around Drapers Farm. Opening bowlers Finlay Jones and Liam Saxton gave few scoring chances to the Needham Market batters. Jones took the first wicket of the innings with the score on 42 in the 12th over.
Henry Miller and Rufus Miller bowled well However, a 2nd wicket partnership of 122 frustrated the Maldon side as both batters played well scoring on both sides of the wicket. Angus Beames and Jack Riley joined the attack and both were unlucky not to take wicket. Beames bowled with aggression and accuracy and ruffed up the batters, as well as his own wicket keeper! The 2nd wicket partnership was broken with the score on 160 thanks to a fine piece of fielding with Joe Figg running to his right from his wicket keeping position and throwing the ball to Finlay Jones who was backing up well to take the bails off. The 2nd XI were back in the game with Needham Market needing 70 from the last 12 overs. Henry Miller returned and bowled the opening batter for 100. Luke Reeve joined the attack with 10 overs to go and immediately bowled well, clean bowling two batters. With 3 overs remaining Needham Market needed 18 runs to win with five wickets in hand. Needham Market now needed 14 runs to win from 2 overs.
Miller collected another wicket thanks to a fine catch by Riley at mid on leaving Needham Market needing 5 from the final over. Reeve took the ball for the final over. This was an over that will live long in the memory.
Ball 1 was nicked low behind and stopped by Figg behind the stumps who through the ball to the stumps running out the dangerous bigger hitting batsman. 5 from 5 needed.
Ball 2 clean bowled the incoming batsman. 5 from 4 needed.
Ball 3 was pushed back towards Reeve and with both batsman running, Reeve ran out the stranded batsman. 5 from 3 needed.
Ball 4 clean bowled the incoming batsman and Maldon had taken 4 wickets in 4 balls to win by 3 runs.
The 2nd XI were rightly elated after the game having shown great patience and determination to win the game.
Maldon Cricket Club 
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