CCA Junior League 4B

Steeple Morden 178-5

Coton 115

Steeple Morden won by 63 runs

STEEPLE Morden produced a fine all-round performance to defeat Coton by 63 runs on Saturday.

Batting first on a damp wicket, Morden’s openers made a solid start reaching 23 before Ryan Headington departed for 11. Paul Jarman (8) joined Max Carlton (30) and they took the score to 54 before both were dismissed.

After a heavy shower Nick Adams was surprised by a rare straight ball leaving Morden 83-4 with 14 overs remaining. Richard King and James Wilson started to score freely and when the latter went for 18 the experienced Tim Tidey played a good supporting innings as 40 runs were added in the last 50 overs.

Tidey finished on 12* while King reached 68* as Morden posted 178-5.

With a strong bowling attack and a slow outfield, Morden’s main concern was the threat of more rain so a good start was needed. Martin Osborne (10-3-23-2) and James Wilson (10-5-12-2) put early pressure on the home batsmen and after 20 overs they were in deep trouble at 42-4.

Chandler started to get on top of the bowling but wickets were falling at the other end to Darren Jarman (10-0-43-3). King then took Chandler caught on the boundary off the bowling of Carlton with his first ball before taking another wicket with his fourth ball, leaving Jason Clark to take the match-winning catch off of the bowling of Nick Adams as Morden maintained their place at the top of the table.