Eight Ash Green lost to Haverhill II by six wickets

EIGHT Ash Green were the visitors to Manor Road and were asked to bat on a cloudy and muggy afternoon.

The opening pair got them off to a steady start against some tight bowling from Maryn Wilkins and Nurul Hoque and Haverhill were getting frustrated at being unable to make the breakthrough.

The partnership went past 100 before Wilkins returned for a second spell and removed Polley with the score on 108.

Dan Webb (3-43) and Phil Jones (2-31), who was having a rare bowl, then made inroads on the visitors batting and it took a few lusty blows from Maitland to get Eight Ash Green to 190-8 off their allocation of overs.

The sun had come through and conditions had freshened up considerably after the break and Steve Taylor and Phil Jones put on an opening stand of 73 before Jones went for 37.

Taylor went on to make another half century and useful contributions from Bradford (30), Hartshorn (24no) and Ketteridge (19no) ensured Haverhill reached their target for the loss of four wickets in under 30 overs.

Julian Poole said: “We are halfway through the fixtures and looking in good shape but can take nothing for granted.

“Being top of the league you are their to be shot at so plenty of hard work needs to be done in the second half of the season.”