Following a below par performance last week , Hadleigh 1sts needed to bounce back strongly against previously unbeaten and league leaders witham cc.

And bounce back they did to inflict the first defeat of the season for the visitors in a thrilling game.

Witham had elected to bowl first in overcast conditions and had early success when Matthew Kent was bowled by Cody McDonald in the first over.

Marlon Dias and Kudzai Maunze rebuilt and reached 45 before Dias was given out LBW.

Maunze was out shortly after caught by Carl Bragg off Leroy Facey.

Wickets fell on a regular basis with Ben Wallis being caught brilliantly by Onke Nyaku.

At 125 for 6 , Witham looked to be in total control.

Young Issac Toombs and Callum Morrin had other ideas and were determined to get their team to a competitive total and the pair batted well being particularly brutal on the bowling of Jake wakeling.

Daniel Shanks replaced Issac Toombs after he was run out for a well worked 37.

Shanks smashed 26 off 15 balls to help post 208 for 9 off 50.

Hadleigh got off to a flyer when Dominic Manthorpe took the wickets of Huntingdon and Smith in the first over to leave the visitors 2 for 5.

Micheal Godwin and Cory McDonald started to rebuild teaching 41 before Manthorpe bowled Godwin.

Ben Wallis had McDonald caught by Morrin to leave Witham 53 for 4.

Wakelin and Myaku were watchful and after several play and misses started to impose themselves , Nyaku however became Wallis’s second victim caught by Kent at cow corner.

Wakelin was now looking assured and putting both good ball and bad ball away well.

Daniel shanks came on for his second spell and beat the outside edge on a regular basis , he cleaned bowled Wakelin for a well worked 64.

168 for 8 and the game was now in the balance , Kyle Tanner and Maunze bowled tightly and pressure was building on the visitors as the overs disappeared.

Maunze cleaned bowled Greg Stephens for 7 to make it 182 for 9 with three overs left.

Facey and Bragg edged their side closer to victory , rotating the strike well.

Dominic Manthorpe then cleaned bowled Facey with his first ball of his last over to take his 4th wicket of game and secure the 20 points for Hadleigh.