3s Win Away in a Nervy Encounter at Elvedon

The fixture on Saturday 22nd April Vs Elvedon was reversed as the Elvedon wicket was dry compared to the wicket at the Prom.

New captain for 2023, Joe Figg, took his mix of experienced and youth on the 160 mile round trip. Winning the toss Joe decided to field first which immediately proved to be a good decision with two quick wickets for Andy Phipps and Josh Lawes with Josh Servis and Joe Figg taking the catches respectively.

Scoring was proving tricky especially with the accurate bowling and fine fielding on offer. Further wickets fell with Phipps and Mikel taking the Elvedon’smiddle order wickets. Servis took another fine catch to dismiss the Elveden captain giving Ravi Patinbandla his first wicket for the club.

Scoring continued to prove tricky and when Charlie Figg taking a wicket (bowled) and Lawes taking two wickets, bowled and another catch by Figg behind the stumps, Elvedon finished their 45 overs on 132/9.

Joe Gregory and Steve Brown opened the batting knowing that the wicket was not easy to bat on and so this proved. However, Gregory and Brown put on a fine 39 for the first wicket before Brown was caught for 17. Gregory followed soon after for a great 31 runs. Both openers played a huge role in starting the run chase.

Andy Barnes came in at number 3 and immediately starting to find the gaps but with a slow outfield and low bounce scoring continued to be hard. Josh

Servis in at 4, Mike Smith at 5 and Joe Figg at 6 all came and went without really troubling the scorers leaving the score at 78/5 with 15 overs left. Andy Phipps and Barnes put on a useful 19 run partnership with both finding the boundary rope.

When Phipps departed Charlie Figg joined Barnes with the score at 97/6 and Maldon needing 36 from 7 overs. Charlie played a fearless knock of 20 from just 18 balls taking the side to within 4 runs of victory before giving the slip fielder a catch with 3 overs remaining. Charlie found the boundary on several occasions with some fins shots. Barnes scored the winning runs to score 45 invaluable runs to anchor the side home.

A nervy ending but a fine win with everyone contributing with either bat or ball or both. This was game played in good spirts between both sides