MISTLEY II v CLACTON

Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division three

(Clacton won by 97 runs)

IMRAN Sheikh and Matt Fowler starred for Clacton.

Sheikh and Mo Asghar got their innings off to a flying start, putting on 87 before Asghar fell to Colin Semple for 33.

Bradley Turner came to the crease and showed no sign of letting up the onslaught, smashing his sixth ball into the road.

After he was dismissed lbw by Robin Mills for a run-a-ball 18, skipper Scott Facey joined Sheikh.

The opener brought up his 50 in just 67 deliveries, before Facey perished for six, stumped off Semple.

Ryan Chamberlain and Sheikh saw Clacton to their third and fourth batting points, sharing a stand of 60 for the fourth wicket.

Sheikh began to accelerate his innings, notching his second century of the season before falling for 108 off 129 balls.

Fowler and Chamberlain ran the fielders ragged in their partnership of 28, before the former ran himself out for 18.

Bradley Pitts then finished off the innings with a breezy 23 off 14 balls.

Clacton finished on 252 for five, with Chamberlain 33 not out.

Mistley suffered an early setback when youngster Jack Eastman squared up Declan Owens, finding a thin edge to the keeper.

Gareth Stevens and Andrew Butcher then shared a partnership of 35, before the latter chipped a return catch to Fowler.

Fowler continued to tie up one end – his nine overs included five maidens and he only conceded seven runs.

Wickets fell at regular intervals, with Fowler bowling Stevens for 27 and having Myles Churchill trapped lbw for 22.

Kieron Parkes, Pitts and Sheikh all picked up wickets but could not make enough breakthroughs to claim the full 20 points.

Mistley finished on 155 for seven.

On Saturday, Clacton travel to Coggeshall (1pm).