Batting depth is key to success: Gozzett (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Batting depth is key to success: Gozzett

12:43pm Thursday 9th July 2009

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MALDON skipper Marc Gozzett believes his side’s batting depth has been one of their main weapons this season.

The men from Drapers Farm highlighted that strength perfectly during Saturday’s tense, three-wicket victory at Haverhill.

Two of the heroes were late-order batsmen – Jeff Cook (43) and Martyn Coker (25) – who turned the screw on the Suffolk side.

And it means Maldon now appear destined for an immediate return to the top flight, after stretching their lead at Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division two summit to 34 points.

“Not many sides bat as deep as we do,” Gozzett told the Standard.

“Martyn Coker comes in at number nine but he’s a very useful batsman, as he proved at the weekend, and outside the top four or five we can all bat in different positions.

“In contrast, one of the things we’ve found this season is the significance of getting the opposition’s top four out.

“It’s all about making an early breakthrough and if you dismiss those players for a reasonable score, you’ve always got a good chance.”

Even former England and Yorkshire player Chris Silverwood could not spoil the day as his Haverhill side batted first and finished on 195 for nine.

Maldon then made 198 for seven and their afternoon got even better when they found out fellow high-flyers Woolpit had lost by 110 runs at Witham.

“It was a really big, satisfying win from a game we could easily have lost,” said Gozzett.

“As things stand, we’re now relatively confident of promotion, without wishing to get carried away and tempt fate.

“We’ve beaten everyone in the league, bar one, and if we continue playing well in our remaining games things will look very promising.

“It’s very much in our own hands and it certainly helps when others around us keep beating each other.

“We’re moving closer and closer.”

One of the other stars of the victory was June player-of-the-month Ian Elliott.

The all-rounder claimed another four wickets to add to his collection, having finished last month with 23 at an average of 18, also scoring 498 runs at an average of 55.

“Ian’s always contributed with the bat for the last 15 to 20 years,” said Gozzett.

“But as he’s got older he’s got a bit smarter with the ball.

“He mixes it up a bit and he was definitely a very worthy winner of the player-of-the-month award.”

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