MALDON skipper Martyn Coker was pleased with his batting performance in their rain-curtailed match against Wivenhoe.

The two sides met at Drapers Farm for their Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division one encounter.

Maldon set a competitive total of 224 for seven from their 50 overs and the visitors had reached 18 in their run chase before rain forced the match to be abandoned.

Maldon picked up 11 points from the match to Wivenhoe’s nine.

This leaves Maldon third-from-bottom in the table with Wivenhoe in fourth.

Despite the disappointment of not being able to finish the match Coker was pleased with his knock of 66, the highest on the day for the home side.

He said: “Personally, I was pleased to get 66, as I haven’t got as many runs as I should have this year.”

But Coker’s wasn’t the only notable batting performance of the day with Ross Walpole hitting his first 50 for the team.

Coker added: “Ross Walpole’s maiden first team fifty was an excellent achievement, and came from him showing lots of intent and looking to score, rather than survive.”

There was also a good display from opener Chris Harris who scored 41, which included eight fours on the way to his total, before going out lbw to Wivenhoe’s Matt Durrell.

And it was Durrell who also had a hand in bringing an end to Coker’s knock when he caught him off the bowling of Harry Burnett.

Burnett also took the wicket of Walpole caught and bowled.

Coker said: “ We posted a competitive score of 224-7 from our 50 overs.

“It would have been an interesting chase for Wivenhoe, and the match was evenly poised.”

Maldon face a tough fixture this weekend away at third-placed Witham in the last game of the first half of the season.

However, Maldon will be strengthened by Ian Elliott and Gary Bannister being back in the side.

Coker added: “The return of Ian and Gary to the team this week is a huge boost.”