Halstead clinch nail-biting one-wicket victory at Wivenhoe in Division One
Halstead (195-9) came out on the right side of a nail-biting one-wicket victory at Wivenhoe (194-8) in Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship Division One.
Batting first, Wivenhoe were in trouble inside the first over as dangerous opener Matt Durrell (zero) knicked to Josh Wells at slip off Joe Morris.
Jordan Nicholls (23) and Tom Durrell (84) settled Wivenhoe nerves in a 73-run second-wicket stand.
On a day where spin accounted for 13 of the wickets to fall, it was the introduction of Josh King (2-39) and Andy Charlton (1-21) that turned the game in Halstead’s favour.
King had Nicholls caught by Charlie Douglas-Hughes, Charlton held on to a one-handed caught and bowled chance to dismiss overseas pro Brendon Louw (1) and King bowled James Butcher (zero) as Wivenhoe lost three wickets for eight runs.
Tom Durrell passed his half-century in partnerships of 48 and 30 with Harry Burnett (28) and Zac Taylor (18) respectively.
Left-arm spinner Craig Spooner (1-27) returned to the attack to have Burnett caught by Douglas-Hughes, while Taylor fell to Wells courtesy of Charlton’s second catch.
Wells and Morris combined again to dismiss Tom Durrell, but Joe Nicholls and Michael Canavon took the hosts to 194-8, Nicholls run out by Morris off the final delivery.
Harry Pritchard (16) hit three fours at the start of Halstead’s reply, however a good catch from Louw accounted for him, with Sam Chapman (2) follwoing in similar fashion – this time Butcher took the catch – as Matt Durrell (3-20) took early wickets.
Wells (44) and Chris Huntington (66) put on their second 73-run stand of the season as the visitors set a strong platform for their reply. Wells was dismissed six runs short of a half-century as his attempted paddle of Louw (1-45) could only find Canavon at short fine leg.
Douglas-Hughes (19) helped Huntington to his third 50 of the season, but the pair fell in quick succession to Liam Holyman (4-44) as momentum shifted back to the hosts with Halstead at 149-5.
Spooner (36) played what proved to be a match-defining innings from number six, taking Holyman for 20 runs in the 41st over. Chris Rayner (3) was trapped LBW by Burnett with 25 needed, but Morris (8) joined Spooner to edge Halstead closer.
Butcher took the catches of Morris and Spooner off Holyman, either side of Matt Durrell returning to bowl King (zero) for a golden duck, as Halstead dramatically faltered toward the line.
With the scores tied, Matt Cooper and Charlton (1 no) batted out 13 deliveries before Charlton finally hit the winning run.
