STRUGGLING Maldon defeated high-flying Witham, after putting more than 300 runs on the board at The Park.

Maldon’s victory was only their third of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties division one season.

They posted a formidable 308 for nine, thanks to swashbuckling contributions of 114 from Chris Harris and 84 from Jimmy Ainscough.

An exciting contest looked on the cards as Witham started well, with Jake Wakelin managing 52 and Kaan Hawes 83.

However, they lost their way and three wickets each for Robb Macmillan, Ian Elliott and skipper Martyn Coker saw them all out for 225.

Coker said: “It was a very good win against the team who were second in the league before the start of play.

“Chris was superb again, showing himself as the best player in the league at the moment, with the form he’s in. Jimmy was very good too and deserved his century.”

“With the ball, Witham were very aggressive initally but Robb, Toby and Ian slowed their scoring down.”

With Witham flying high in second place of division one, this seemed like a tough away fixture for a Maldon side that are in the bottom half of the table.

Some exceptional performances, however, meant that against the odds, Maldon could prevail.

Maldon lost Robb Macmillan early but the second- wicket partnership of Harris (114) and Ainscough (84) set the theme of the day as the two batsmen dispatched the Witham bowlers around the park in a brilliant display of batting.

The two put on 178 with a fast run-rate that totally demoralised the home fielders.

Ainscough was the first to fall to Jack Sambrook (2-37) and Harris went the same way a little while later.

Ian Elliot (13) made a cameo partnership with Harris but was caught shortly after.

Ross Walpole chipped in until he was stumped for the fourth time this year but this loss of wicket brought Matt Coppen (19 not out) to the crease.

Coppen forged a solid partnership with his captain Coker (28), to get the side towards the 300 mark but a string of wickets went down and Maldon just made it to 308 by the end of the 50th over thanks to Jack Riley’s 13 off four balls.

Maldon took to the field with a very solid score behind them but realised that Witham were not going down without a fight when Wakelin fired up the home side’s innings with 52 from 27 balls.

The seamers struggled for Maldon but when Coker turned to spin, wickets fell.

Toby Pugh (1-49) dismissed Wakelin and Ian Elliot (3-16) struck to pick off a slow scoring Sam Cooper (10).

Having scored two centuries in the previous three games, Leroy Facey carried a reputation but when Macmillan (3-33) had him caught on just three, Maldon knew they were in the game for sure.

A partnership then formed for Witham as Kaan Hawes (83) and Richard Green (25) dug in to rescue a faltering innings but they could only do so much before Elliot struck again and bowled Green.

It was from here that wickets fell thick and fast with Macmillan and Coker (3-19) tearing through the Witham tail.

The only contribution of any note from what was left of Witham was a 29 scored by Cody McDonald.

The Maldon bowlers were too good for Witham as they followed up the exceptional batting performance with an impressive display that made sure that Witham were in second place throughout.

This is a big victory for Maldon due to the success of Witham so far this season and they will look to take the momentum of this win into this Saturday’s match.

Coker added: “This weekend we travel to Sudbury, who lead the league, but were bowled out for 87 last weekend.

“We have Freddie Clark back, but no Ian Elliott once again.

“However, things look promising for a strong second half of the seasons showing.”