CLACTON v MISTLEY II

Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division three

(Clacton won by eight wickets)

BRAD Turner and Bradley Pitts tore through Mistley at Vista Road, with the visitors dismissed for just 78.

This ensured the hosts reclaimed top spot in division three.

This week’s skipper, Imran Sheikh, won the toss and elected to bowl.

His decision paid off early on, when Turner had Declan Owens caught at slip.

Pitts then claimed his first scalp of the day, nipping one back to bowl Gareth Stevens with the score on 16.

Turner and Pitts then continued to trade blows, with Turner having Myles Churchill caught behind and Pitts having Andrew Butcher dismissed in the same fashion.

Turner then bowled Drew Felstead for a duck, before Pitts completed his trio of wickets with Hector Scott-Lyon edging behind.

Turner bowled Jimmy Goff and then the spin of Fowler was introduced, enticing an edge from Robin Mills to give Sheikh his second catch of the day at slip.

Turner finished off his five-wicket haul in style, taking a sharp return catch off Mark Vickers.

Fowler then clean-bowled Johnson round his legs to leave Clacton needing 79 to claim the win.

The reply got off to the worst possible start, with leading run-scorer Sheikh lofting a catch to mid-off from the first ball of the innings.

Ryan Chamberlain and Mo Asghar set about chasing down the small target and Chamberlain, in particular, was in a hurry, smashing 33 from 20 balls. This included six fours and a six, to break the back of the run-chase.

Turner then finished off his day with 20 not out, including three boundaries, to see Clacton go top of division three.