They may have had more conclusive victories in Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division one, but Witham Cricket Club captain Jake Wakelin believes their one against Mistley showcased their team spirit at its best.

Wakelin admitted that his team had an off day as they somehow managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and win by one run to stay second in the top-flight standings.

However, he was proud that they could still earn the win despite not hitting anywhere near their top form.

A knock of 69 by Kaan Hawes underpinned Witham’s total of 212 for eight, although some late scoring by Carl Bragg and Pete Austin helped them to a more competitive total.

However, the game’s real drama came at the end of the Mistley innings and Wakelin felt that was where Witham’s team spirit shone through.

“If I’m honest, we weren’t very good,” he said.

“But that’s the thing I always say about us as we are a team who stick together.

“From the position we were in, there’s no way that we should have won that game - they needed 12 off the last two overs with five wickets remaining.

“Leroy (Facey) bowled the penultimate over and went for seven, which is good for that stage of a game, and took one wicket, then Adrian (Chad) bowled the last over knowing that just five were needed.

“He went for two off his first five balls and there were two run-outs leaving three required off the final ball.

“The batsman missed it and they ran a bye, but that meant we won by one run, which was amazing.

“It certainly wasn’t our best performance, but my team don’t know when they’re beaten.

“The top order didn’t click in the way that we have so far and it was Kaan Hawes who held it together for us with the bat as he made 69.

“If it wasn’t for him, I think we’d have been in a bit of bother.

“He had a good partnership with Simon Jones and then there was also a good partnership between Carl Bragg and Pete Austin at the end as they put on 40-odd to give us something to bowl at.

“Mistley batted quite well, but we picked up some important wickets including one caught and bowled by Adrian that was the best I’ve ever seen.

“Their wicket-keeper absolutely melted one straight back at him that I didn’t even see so I don’t know how he did.

“Then there was that ending so it was an interesting game.

“I think we were expected to win it, but it certainly wasn’t how we expected to win it.

“However, that’s the sign of a good team that you can still win even when you’re not at your best.”