Despite emerging with a three-wicket victory with more than six overs to spare, the result could have been different if the Essex side had been more used to winning.

With both Exning opening bowlers having difficulty in finding their rhythm, the home team found runs easy to come by early on.

Daniel Baigent did manage two straight balls to reduce the hosts to 33-2 but found ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers footballer Gary Bellamy in good form, before he was somewhat unfortunate to be adjudged lbw to Peter Woods for 39.

Woods went on to claim a further wicket, that of Rob Morrell for 31, to give him figures of 2-44 in his first match for the Exning senior side in the absence of David Atkinson.

Another seasonal debutante, Ben Readman took 1-25 to reduce the score to 128-5.

The opening pair of Ian Starling and Baigent were then reintroduced into the attack and although Ed Smith (34) batted fluently to give Kelvedon and Feering a worthwhile score to defend, the innings closed at 177 in the final over.

Starling and Baigent took 2-31 and 5-64 respectively, aided in no short measure by four catches snaffled by Michael Skelton behind the stumps.

In reply, three boundaries from Oli Fowlston in the first over of Exning's innings looked to put the visitors well on top, with Richard Ford (28) giving him sound support as the total reached 92 in the 17th over.

However, the introduction of the slow bowling pair of Ed Smith and skipper Alex Parsons slowed the run rate and led to the dismissal of Fowlston for an entertaining 62.

Each of Exning's middle order batsmen promised much but produced little as they were undone by the wiles of Smith as the score lurched to 157-7.

Skelton then joined Baigent in a crucial unbeaten eighth wicket stand of 21 as Smith was withdrawn from the attack having completed his allotment of 15 overs to finish with figures of 6-65.

Baigent finished with an undefeated 27 to complete a good all-round performance and hand Exning the win.

Exning remain undefeated at the top of the Two Counties Division Two but face another stern test this Saturday when they travel to Mistley, a team they defeated in the first outing of the 2008 campaign.


Exning II v Easton II

THE Park 2nd XI took a rest from Club Colours Suffolk Premier Cricket League action on Saturday as they played host to Easton II in a first round tie of the FSCL Cup.

Batting first, the home team slipped to 39-2 with the loss of the experienced campaigners Nigel Lomas and Peter Allen.

David Werthmann (31) steadied the innings as he joined Simon Lawson in a third wicket stand of 61 to take the score to 100-3.