MALDON Cricket Club skipper Martyn Coker is looking for his side to bounce back.

Maldon suffered their first Marshall Hatchick Two Counties division one defeat of the season on Saturday.

They lost out to a seven-wicket defeat against Sudbury as they failed to put a halt to the home side’s batting line-up.

Maldon posted 181 but Sudbury posted 183 for the loss of only three wickets to take the win.

Maldon had started the season well with a shock win over champions Frinton and following it up with a 31-run victory against Witham.

Coker said: “We suffered our first defeat of the year against Sudbury at Friars Street.

“We started very positively with the bat after winning the toss with Jamie Glenn and Chris Harris scoring at over six an over for the first ten overs.

“Jamie was run out for 32 when the score was 75 and that changed the game.

“Chris batted excellently for his 58, as did Jimmy Ainscough for his 30, but we were probably 60-70 runs short of a good score on a good pitch with small boundaries.

“James Ellis and Ross Walpole also batted well.”

One factor in the defeat was a key member of the bowling attack was missing from the line-up.

Coker said: “We needed an early breakthrough with the ball but that didn’t come.

“Phillips and Batch batted well to take the game away from us quickly.

“Our bowlers did not have the same control as the first two games.

“We missed Gary Bannister who was unable to play this week, and he has bowled very well with the new ball in each of the first games of the year.”

Despite the defeat, Coker is upbeat with their start to the season.

He added: “After three games we lay sixth in the table and two wins from three is probably more than we could have hoped for.

“Wivenhoe will be tough this week as we know they are a side very suited to their home conditions.

“But there is no reason why we can’t go there and get a third win of the season.”