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Promotion rivals Braintree were unable to post a challenging score for Felixstowe as the seasiders won promotion to Division Three of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties League.

On a fast bouncy track, Felixstowe bowlers Vinnie De sousa (14-4-52-4) and Regan McClean (20-3-66-5) put on a show of aggressive short bowling to get the Braintree batsmen ducking and weaving. Left hander Jamie Foyster showed resilliance by finishing 55 not out having had nine different batting partners. Nearly all the runs came behind the wickets, even at third man and fine leg due the the nature of the bowling. Tan Shahid and J.B.S bowled the other six overs with Shahid picking up the other wicket. All 10 wickets were caught. Braintree needed to reply strongly with early wickets if the result were to go in their favour. Steve Hale and Dan King did just that, with Felixstowe on 49 -3 things could have gone badly wrong but for the batting of Jamie Rock(59n.o) and Ben Connell (51n.o). Both batsmen took it slowly, especially against the spin of Shaun Gould, until the victory target was in sight. They then opened up as Braintree changed the bowing around to try something different but to no avail.




Coggleshall are the only team still not to have won a game in the whole of the nine divisions. So great expectation is on Felixstowe to secure the full 20 points. Once again with the use of the new ball Vinnie desousa (13-2-39-2) and Regan McClean (15-0-49-0) made Coggleshall work hard for there runs at Dellwood Ave. The only batsman to put any reasonable score on the board was Coggleshall's number four, Neale (54n.o). Second top scorer was extras with 27! The away side were restricted to 146. Tan Shahid (8-2-24-1) and J.B.S (9-1-30-2) played their part with some tight bowling.
Felixstowe knocked the runs of easily with the only casualty being Steve Bloomfield for four. Mark Jones got 102 not out and Ryan Cresswell showed he can step up to the first team when required with 33 not out. With five regular first team players missing, Felixstowe made light work in chasing the total down, using just 23.2 overs. Unfortunately Felixstowe only managed six of Coggleshall wickets, meaning only 18 points were gained.



With just four games remaining of the season, Felixstowe remain top after defeating an in form Worlington side.
Felixstowe won the game with the ball by restricting the home side to just 187-8 on a good batting wicket. The damage was done by fast bowlers Vinnie Dasouza (11-0-36-2) and Regan McClean (15-4-67-5). Worlington's batsmen couldn't deal with the pace with most of the runs coming by chance through the short straight boundries.Jamie Rock, Ed Parker and Tan Shahid bowled tightly in support.


Once again Felixstowe made hard work of knocking off the runs with six wickets going down in the process. Mark Jones and Danny Rock both got 21, but it was younger brother Jamie who played the important roll of seeing the game to the end with 69 not out. Vinnie Dasouza entertained at the end with 25 off eight balls, one ball being a dot and the other his wicket. With a gap opening at the top Felixstowe need to win just three of the last four games to guarantee promotion.





Another top of the table clash took place at Dellwood Ave on Saturday with both teams needing points to keep promotion on track. As so many games have been lost to the weather this season, both teams were hoping for a result on another showery day in Felixstowe. Fortunately, the showers left by late morning and thanks to the covers the wicket remained dry.

St Margrets batted first and looked to be bowled out quickly as Jamie Rock (7-1-14-2) and Tan Shahid (8-1-45-2) struck early having the away side in trouble at 10-3. This brought together the only notable stand of the innings of 73 by Robert White (92) and Nigel Bradford (25). Non of the last six batsmen managed to get into double figures as White batted through undefeated enabling St Margrets something at least possible to defend.

Regan McClean(18-2-58-3) did much of the damage with Ben Connell in support (12-1-44-1) Felixstowe replied strongly as the first wicket stand between Captain Mark Jones (78) and wicket keeper Danny Rock (40) fell four short of the century.
With just 92 needed and 9 wickets still intact Felixstowe made hard work of it with wickets falling at regular intervals.
Pick of the St Margrets bowlers were opening bowlers Andy Shufflebotham (11-1-53-3) and spinner Ian Johnson (18-3-56-4). Felixstowe passed the total with five overs to spare and three wickets in hand. This leaves Felixstowe top with St Margrets being replaced in second place by Copford.




Felixstowe skittled Halstead 2nd XI to rise back to the top of the league. A long and pacey spell from new recruit Regan McClean saw Halstead crumble to a mediocre 99 all out. McClean (17.2-2-51-3), a former Somerset 2XI player now playing for the combined services is brother to former West Indies test player Nixon. Ed Parker's (7-0-18-4) swing destroyed the top order and left Halstead at 33-4 after his spell, with the spin of Syed Rafaiy clearing up the tail. Felixstowe's batsmen made light work of it too as the polished off the small total in just 16.5 overs. Syed Rafaiy (30) the only wicket to fall with Danny Rock (45 n.o.) top scoring and brother Jamie (13 n.o) also unbeaten.
Promotion rivals Braintree tied there match with Boxted and Copford losing to Worlington allowed Felixstowe to sit on top of the league with six games to go.





3rd placed Copford were the visitors for another important match for Felixstowe as the battle for promotion in to division three continued. In a low scoring game, Copford battered first on a damp wicket. With the ball seaming around Ed Parker and Tan Shahid did the bulk of the damage, reducing Copford to 31-7. The tail end showed some resilience as porter (32) and Rawson (50) edged the score up to 138 all out. In reply, Felixstowe struggled to get going with wickets falling regularly. Mark Jones and Ian Connell both got in to the 20's but neither going on to win the game. a late stand 39 between Rafaiy (15) and Shahid (21) brought an exciting end to the game as Rafaiay holed out just eleven runs short of the modest Copford total.

A top of the table clash took place at Dellwood Ave this weekend with visitors Braintree looking to increase their lead at the top. In for Braintree won the toss and batted first hoping their in form batsmen set a competitive total. A combination of tight bowling and pressure on the away side to set a good total to continue their unbeaten run led to slow scoring. With the need to hit out at the end to set a reasonable total, wickets fell. Pick of the bowlers were Ed Parker (15-1-40-2) and Syed Rafaiy (14-4-32-5), limiting Braintree to just 147 all out. Felixstowe started well withthe first wicket stand of 67 between Ryan Cresswell (18) and Mark Jones (61), the only other wicket to fall was that of Jamie Rock for 29, with Ian Connell (24not out) and Ben Connell (16 not out) finishing off the match and winning by 7 wickets. Braintree were restricted to just 3 points in the game allowing Felixstowe to move to the top of the table.

It was a pleasure to play on an Essex 2nd XI ground at Coggeshall, although the runs didn't flow as expected. Coggeshall won the toss and put Felixstowe in. Felixstowe captain Mark Jones was more than happy with decision but failed to capitalise. Only Jamie Rock succeeded with 80. A number of other batsmen got started but couldn't get past 20 or 30. With runs added at the end of the innings with Jamie Rock batting the the tail Felixstowe managed to get to 200 all out.
In reply Coggeshall Made very hard work of it thanks to Ed Parker (4 wickets) and Syed Rafaiy (3 wickets). The home side were in big trouble at 40-6 making Felixstowe's score looking bigger than it deserved to. Felixstowe struggled to finish off the Essex side and missing out on the full 20 points. Coggeshall ended up on 152-9 collecting 8 points for themselves. Not enough to move them from the bottom of the table. Felixstowe remain second with a big game this week against top of the table Braintree.




As Felixstowe 1st XI continue to rise to the top of the league, they welcomed Worlington to Dellwood Avenue. Mark Jones (45) and Reuben Sharpe (33) put on 66 for the first wicket before both being needlessly run out. Jamie Rock took control of the game with 67 including a 76 run partnership with Ben Connell (25). Despite wickets regually falling after that, Johti Barnsley Sadisivan (29) entertained with his usual display of no-nonsense hitting. Felixstowe notched up a competitive 243-9 after their 45 overs. Worlington showed some fight with both Guallop and Hay wood scoring 53 runs each making Felixstowe work hard for the points. But once again Syed Rafaiy proved to be the match winner by picking up 7-80 from 22 overs bowling his left arm off spin. Ed Parker and Tan Shahid took one wicket a piece to leave Worlington 211-9 and languishing near the foot of the table. With Felixstowe missing out on Worlington's last wicket, they get 19 out of a possible 20 points.


Felixstowe hoped to win at Ramsomes Sports Ground against a weakened St Margarets side having last weeks game against Boxted rained off as they were nearing victory. As a lot of rain had fallen during the week and without covers, the wicket was not as good as you'd expect at Ransomes. Never the less, the game was completed, all be it in a low scoring contest. Felixstowe were without captain Mark Jones, but Danny Rock stood in and did a good job. Runs were had to come by with the stand in skipper top scoring with 26. Others to contribute were Ian Connell (18) Jamie Rock (17) Syed Rafaiy (17) James Heathcote (16) and Adam Hopkins (14). With 18 extras helped Felixstowe on to 149 all out.

Having seen St Margarets take to pace off the ball with great effect in the first innings, Felixstowe decided to open with two spinners. "Spin twins" Syed Rafaiy (22-5-57-4) and Johti Barnsley Sadisivan (12-6-27-2) did much of the damage. St Margrets batsman Richard Harper tried to see his team though with 64 runs and having seven different batting partners, finally fell to give Rafaiy his fourth wicket. A weak tail end enabled Tan Shahid to pick up two wickets for seven runs and a run out won the game for Felixstowe with St Margarets needing just 11 to win.


There was always going to be a problem with rain as it had been raining mich of the week and was forecast to on Saturday. Thanks to the covers, at least the wicket was dry! Boxted won the toss and inserted Felixstowe, but failed to capitalise on there decision. After Mark Jones (23) and Dan Bennett (12) fell, the Rock brothers put on 144 for the third wicket. Jamie scored 57 and wicket keeper/batsman Danny went on to score 105. Once again James Heathcote chipped in at the end with a quick 33 to set Boxted 263 to win.
Boxted's batting needed to be a lot stronger than there bowling if they were to chase down this total. It wasn't, but fortunately for them the rain arrived.
Excellent bowling from all four bowlers ( Shahid 8-0-30-1 Parker 11-4-21-1 Rafaiy 8.3-3-17-1 J.B.S 5-0-13-1) restricted Boxted to 90-4. With a couple of stoppages during the day and the low cloud cover affecting the light it was difficult to continue. A final shower at half past seven put an end to the game with Boxted still needing 173 from just 13 overs to win.
Felixstowe left the field feeling hard done by as they were by far the stronger side.

Once again Felixstowe struggled to bat our opponents out of the game with Halstead II producing some solid bowling on a lifeless pitch. At 40-4, a 92 run stand between mark Jones (77) and Ben Connell(38) steadied the ship. James Heathcote showed his potential of taking the bowling attack apart with a superb 54, reaching his half century off just 38 balls. J.B.S (19) chipped in with some big hitting to help Felixstowe recover to 230-9.
Mark Jones (20) and Ian Connell (22) got Felixstowe off to a steady start putting on 39 for the first wicket. Jamie (26) and Danny Rock (19) both got in but losing there wickets lead to a batting collapse. Having gone from 70-1 to 116-7, Ben Connell (54) and Peter Hurry (14) put on 47 for the 8th wicket. Felixstowe managed to scramble to 193 all out.

Tan Shahid and Ed Parker got the top four out, with two wickets a piece. J.B.S and Jamie Rock also bowled well without picking up any wickets but kept the Clacton run rate down. The only batsman that threatened to win the game for Clacton was F. Mir (59). But as the run rate increased for the away side he had to hit out and got stumped by Danny Rock off the bowling of Ben Connell. Ben Picked up three more wickets and an Ian Connell/Danny Rock run out left Clacton on 159-9. Just one wicket short of the full twenty points. Never the less a good start to the season for the 1st XI.


Felixstowe I (19pts) beat Clacton II (8pts) by 36 runs.