Maldon 1st XI 226-7

Lakenheath 1st XI 122

Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division two

HAVING won convincingly yet again, Maldon retain their top spot and unbeaten status.

They lost the toss and were made to bat at Lakenheath.

Once again, Reece O'Connell (53) got them off to a flying start with a well-paced knock that brought up his fifth half-century of the season.

Chris Harris (nine) could not get the same start as he struggled to emulate his batting partner and was bowled by Shane Leech (four for 56).

With Ian Elliott (34) at the crease, Maldon added another 19 but O'Connell became the second man to fall to Leech as he was caught and bowled.

Shortly after, Jimmy Ainscough became Leech's third victim.

At 79 for three, Maldon looked troubled but Elliott and Martyn Coker (38) rallied together to bolster their total before Elliott fell in exactly the same fashion as O'Connell.

Coker was joined by fellow all-rounder Matt Anderson (24) and the two maintained their team-mates' momentum until Anderson was caught off the bowling of Tim Milner (three for 64).

Coker did not last much longer as he became the third caught and bowled wicket but incoming Matt Wild (30) and Ross Walpole (21 not out) were able to add potentially vital runs at the end of the innings to get their total to 227.

Maldon kicked off their fielding innings with a perfect start as Matt Wild (one for 18) cleaned up Dominic Palmer (five). The visitors had to wait for their second wicket as Frank Gammon (26) dug in his heels but he was subsequently bowled by Matt Anderson (four for 47).

Wickets fell at regular intervals from here as O'Connell (four for 36) took his first two in quick succession and Anderson took a further three middle order batsmen.

There were two more wickets for O'Connell but Lakenheath started to show some resistance.

It was a good day for skipper Shane Leech (52) as he put up the only serious fight of the innings to match his four wickets in the first innings.

He was not able to tackle Elliot (one for 19), though, as the Maldon man had him caught to end the innings and the match.

Next week they host second-placed Elmstead in arguably their most important game of the season.