Last week Maldon Cricket Club's President, Colin Philpott, asked the teams to keep their heads up despite recent adverse results.

This week, the captains of Maldon's XIs responded magnificently. The skippers of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd XIs all top-scored for their respective teams.

Colin's other theme was to look at the bright future Maldon's many young cricketers promised and again, the response was excellent - 15-year-olds Tom Poole and Karl Walshley scored their maiden half-centuries for the 4th XI.

Also positive for the club was its recent Cricket Week. Maldon CC chairman Alan Coker said: "The sun shone, the food was good and the cricket was excellent."

"Modern cricket weeks are very different now. We had a Colts/Ladies match to start on Monday evening, two all-day matches against Little Baddow and Hadleigh & Thundersley. Nimesh Perera got his first 100 for the club in the latter match.

"On Thursday, the Maldon team was in a three-way 20/20 competition against Heybridge Social Club (with thanks to John Hill for organising them) and the Plume School, and on Friday the club entertained two Two Counties sides at over-50 and over-60 levels.

"The club would like to thank Geoff Newman for organising these two sides. Results varied, but on one thing all agreed - the food surpassed all expectations, apart from those of the three confident cooks, Sue Gozzett, and particularly Judy Smith and her daughter Helen."

This week, Maldon are running a Colts Summer School, with sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. So far 40 youngsters have signed up.

It costs £15 a day and it's not too late to join. The next sessions will be held on August 27 and 28.

Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Premier Division
Maldon 1st XI 164 Copdock and Old Ipswichians 165-5
(Maldon lost by 5 wickets)

After the previous week's fun, it was back to the serious business of league cricket on Saturday for Maldon's 1st XI.

The sun had dried out Draper's Farm and the wicket took spin. In John East - whose cousin Ray played as a spinner for Essex - Copdock had just the man to exploit the conditions.

Skipper Marc Gozzett top-scored with 32 and only Nimesh Perera, 31, could keep him company.

"I knew 200 would have been tough to chase, but we just could not break the spinners' grip," said Marc.

Maldon were bowled out for 164.

Copdock got the runs but had to fight for 46 overs to get them.

"We tried to build pressure but dropped catches early on and couldn't stop them pushing up their run rate," said skipper Marc.

"Nevertheless, Robbie Barker, 2-27, and Toby Pugh, 3-31, bowled well. The fighting spirit in the side was good."

More Maldon CC results to come

1:18pm Thursday 31st July 2008

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