Maldon get back to winning ways (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Maldon get back to winning ways

5:01pm Thursday 23rd August 2012 in Sport

MALDON got back to winning ways in Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division one following their thumping by Frinton.

Maldon skipper Jimmy Ainscough said: “This league is becoming like the Premiership and we are vying for the Europa spot – in other words, fifth place and top of the rest.”

Ainscough had promised to bounce back after last week’s 158-run defeat against top-four Frinton and, at Drapers on Saturday against Haverhill, they did just that.

Haverhill batted first and after Jack Riley dismissed both openers, they had two decent stands en route to a 189 for eight total.

Riley (four for 19) has made such strides recently that with 22 wickets this season at an average of 17, he’s Maldon’s leading wicket-taker. Toby Pugh broke one of the major stands and with three for 40 took out the middle order.

Riley had Boulton (54) smoothly caught at slip by Ian Elliott; his partner went with a smart run-out and Haverhill’s innings ended.

Ainscough said: “That’s typical of the bowling performances we have put on this season and I rue those four early-season cancellations.

“They were against opposition we could have beaten, and who knows where we would be in the table now.”

Maldon made an efficient job of chasing down Haverhill’s total.

Jamie Glenn (30 with seven fours) went after the opening bowlers.

Chris Harris (30) and Coker (62) were more watchful, but Martyn particularly punished any loose ball.

His partnership with Elliott (32 not out) took Maldon close, but a quick three-wickets drew a response, especially from Marc Gozzett (22) who crashed four fours to bring Maldon victory.

This weekend Maldon play fifth-placed Wivenhoe in what footballers would call a six-pointer.