WITHAM Cricket Club captain Jake Wakelin was pleased to see his players respond to an under par showing the week before to emerge as winners in a thrilling finale against Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division one leaders Wivenhoe.

The previous week had seen Wakelin disappointed with his team's bowling and fielding performance at Hadleigh, but they rose to the challenge against the leaders to defend a smallish total and take victory off the final ball of the match.

It was an important result as it allowed Witham to close out the first half of the season positively and Wakelin felt the manner of the victory would give his team further confidence to press forward in the second half, starting against Woolpit at home on Saturday.

He said: "It was a good win.

"We didn't get enough runs if I'm honest, but Michael Godwin and Jim Suett had a great partnership to give us enough to defend.

"Michael Godwin has probably been our stand-out player this year and it was another good innings from him.

"He made 76 and Jim Suett 61 in our 196, but we still knew we would have to field and bowl well and it was good to feel in the game all the way through.

"It was a good team performance.

"The boys weren't happy the week before and wanted to put it right against Wivenhoe.

"We didn't have enough runs but we bowled well and held on to catches this time.

"It came down to the last over where they needed 11 off it with one wicket remaining and then they needed two off the last ball.

"Credit to Matt McKendry as he bowled a great last ball and as they attempted the run, our wicket-keeper (Suett) was up with a glove off and he completed the run out.

"It's a win we can take confidence from - not just the win itself but the way in which it came.

"However, one game does not make us world beaters and we'll have to play well again this weekend.

"Woolpit are the best all-round team in the league in my opinion, but we'll be ready to go again."

Wakelin said he expected a similar Witham team from the one that beat Wivenhoe to be available to face Woolpit.