Win provides renewed hope (From Halstead Gazette)

Win provides renewed hope

12:42pm Friday 3rd July 2009

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Halstead's chances of beating the drop have been boosted ahead of their vital clash with Norwich tomorrow.

Matt Spatcher’s side travel to Norfolk with renewed hope, after registering only their second home win of the season in the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League.

They beat fellow League newcomers Saffron Walden by a comfortable seven-wicket margin at Star Stile.

Skipper Spatcher put the visitors into bat and it quickly looked like a good decision.

Saffron Walden were reduced to 33 for three, with the Essex pair of Tom Westley and Adam Wheater back in the shed.

But the visitors’ fourth-wicket pair dug in and with a couple of chances going down, they took the score to 112 for three off 40 overs at lunch.

The game then took a dramatic shift in the post lunch session, as Saffron Walden collapsed.

Tom Philp (six for 47) and Darren Hutchison (three for 43) combined to rip out the last seven wickets for just 51 runs, leaving the home side a total of 164 for victory.

This target was easily achieved as Spatcher rediscovered his touch with an attractive 56 and Chris Barton continuing his recent good run of form with an unbeaten 54.

Barton and Philp (21 not out) added an unbeaten fourth-wicket stand of 71 to see Halstead past the post, as the game just passed into the final hour of play.

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