Big runs from duo

Halstead (278) ran out winners in a high-scoring Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship Division One match at Hadleigh (220) on Saturday.

Big half-centuries from Chris Huntington and Josh Wells and some lower-order hitting from Joe Morris set-up a total that proved 58 runs too many for the hosts.

Wells won the toss; Huntington (86) opening alongside Harry Pritchard (7), the latter quickly trapped LBW by Kyle Tanner (1-38).

Neale Dakin (17) returned to the first-team fold for the first time this season after scoring 563 runs at 93.83 in eight Second XI appearances, and the pair put on 74 for the second wicket.

Huntington was in blistering form, passing his half-century in just 34 balls as part of an innings that contained 19 fours.

Dakin made his way to 17, but picked out Tanner at midwicket to become the first of four Matthew Kent (4-63) victims, Halstead slipping to138-5.

Chris Rayner (9) set about rotating the strike to ensure his captain faced the majority of the deliveries, the Halstead skipper scoring at around seven an over on his own throughout their 80-run stand.

Daniel Shanks (1-42) ended Wells’ innings, LBW on 78 with the score 218.

Leg-spinner Ben Wallis (4-31) bowled Rayner and had Sam Chapman (1) caught at mid off to peg Halstead back to 224-8.

Joe Morris (36 not out) produced another vital knock that, alongside Ed Clark (11) and Andy Charlton (5), dragged Halstead to a competitive total of 278 as Wallis picked up the final two wickets.

Hadleigh lost the wicket of Alex Milnes (3) early on, Wells taking the catch at first slip off Morris (3-20).

The hosts were further reduced to 55-3 as Morris had Chris Gange (31) caught at second slip by Huntington before bowling Jamie Colcomb (4).

Andy Charlton (1-30) – playing in what is set to be his last game of 2018 – went out with a wicket as he trapped Mark Simmons (24) LBW.

Josh Davey (30) and Callum Morrin (48) battled for a 58-run partnership to attempt to get the hosts’ chase back on track, the pair frustrating the Halstead attack with their sixth-wicket stand.

Chris Rayner (2-38) had Davey caught behind by Chapman and then caught and bowled Matthew Kent (8).

When Morrin holed out to Rayner off Huntington (2-9) the game was all but won.

Kyle Tanner (23) and Ben Wallis (18) added runs, but it was too little too late as Tanner was bowled by Huntington, Daniel Shanks (4) caught behind off Wells (1-41) and Ashley Clark (2) run out by Rayner.