Halstead go second after demolishing neighbours
Halstead (208-0) romped to a resounding 10-wicket victory over neighbours Witham (207-8) at Star Stile on Saturday.
Chris Huntington (128no) and Harry Pritchard (70no) steered the hosts to the comprehensive Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Division One win with more than 10 overs to spare as Halstead moved to second in the standings.
Michael Godwin (45) and James Smith (39) got Witham off to a strong start, taking 41 from the first seven overs of the game.
Josh King (3-32) was introduced with Witham at 83-0, the change immediately paying dividends as the left-armer trapped Godwin lbw with his second delivery. James Suett (26) and Forster Mutizwa (52) rebuilt well, adding 68 runs for the third wicket.
Witham captain Jake Wakelin (4) attempted a reverse sweep off Charlton, only to hit it straight at Chris Huntington at point. The latter was then introduced to the attack and claimed 3-23 as Witham tried to accelerate their scoring.
Huntington had Simon Jones (4) and Ollie Cooke (2) caught by Sam Chapman and Josh Wells respectively before Mutizwa reached his 50 off 70 deliveries.
Chris Huntington opened alongside Harry Pritchard as Witham followed Halstead’s lead and used spin in the attack early in the innings.
Huntington was typically bullish in punishing anything off line as he quickly reached 20. Pritchard played an excellent foil to Huntington, rotating the strike effectively as the hosts ticked along at four an over against the spin of Bragg and Wakelin.
Huntington passed 50 for the fourth time this campaign with another boundary – he would hit 15 fours and two sixes in his 119 ball innings.
Mutizwa, Bragg and Wakelin kept scoring down as Halstead moved on to 124-0 from 29 overs, but this would prove limited respite as the next nine overs went for 84 runs.
Pritchard secured a well-deserved maiden 1st XI half-century as the hosts moved to 168-0 in 34 overs.
By now Huntington was into the groove and reached three figures, Halstead scoring 40 runs in 4.3 overs to take a comfortable victory.
l Halstead II (299-6) made it three wins on the bounce, beating Wivenhoe II (151) by 148 runs in Division Four on Saturday, Neil Daking hitting 23 fours and one six in his 168 from 138 balls.
Aaron Read (4-25) and Sam Walter (4-60) kept the hosts in check.
l Halstead III (90-2, Taylor Nicholson 52) beat Ipswich & ES (89, Ben Roper 3-10) by eight wickets in Division Eight.
l Halstead’s Sunday XI (133-0, Sam Chapman 68no, Liam Jones 55no) beat Braintree (127, Callum Hansey 4-26) by 10 wickets in North Essex League Division Two.
