Halstead (151 for two) beat Copford (147) by eight wickets

Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division one

HALSTEAD bounced back from their disappointing defeat by Haverhill to beat Copford by eight wickets in Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division one at Star Stile.

The result left Halstead tied fourth in the table on 79 points after their third win of the season.

Copford batted first and were in trouble quickly, as a three-wicket burst from Harry Veal left them at 28 for three.

Kieran Savill (3) was trapped LBW, James Bell (9) was bowled and Ian Catley (13) caught behind by Larvet Masunda.

Tom Sinclair and Tim Richards added 20 for the fourth wicket, but another three-wicket burst, this time for Josh Wells, left Copford reeling at 57 for six.

Richards played a measured innings, rebuilding alongside Keith Sargeant (17) and sharing a 60-run seventh-wicket stand, that was only ended when the latter was run out after smart work from Charlie Douglas-Hughes.

Former Halstead man Mike Kettle helped tick the score along and saw Richards past his half-century, only to fall soon after for 54 as Douglas-Hughes took the catch off Sam Walter's bowling.

Copford pushed on toward 150, but two wickets in two balls from Chris Roper finished the innings off as the visitors were all out for 147.

Douglas-Hughes and Oli Grayson both got starts in the Halstead reply, but fell in quick succession to leave Halstead at 34 for two.

Zimbabwean Masunda and Wells had swapped places in the batting order, but it had made little difference and the left-handers set about stabilising the Halstead chase.

Masunda was more watchful, with Wells the aggressor as the pair ticked the score past 50 and 100.

Wells brought up his first half-century of the season before the partnership was worth 100 runs, leaving Masunda to punch a ball for four to wrap up victory.

The firsts travel to Mistley tomorrow, looking to consolidate their position in division one.