Halstead Cricket Club captain Josh Wells feels greater consistency is needed for his team to end their losing run in Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division one.

A ten-wicket defeat by Witham was Halstead’s third loss in a row and they will be hoping to turn their fortunes around when they host early league leaders Sudbury today.

It may have been a heavy defeat by Witham, but Wells felt there had been a level of Halstead culpability in their downfall and he wants to see greater consistency from his players.

“It was a bit disheartening really as we threw it away ourselves,” said the Star Stile skipper. “The way we batted was a bit naive and it wasn’t so much as case of them getting us out rather than us getting ourselves out.

“Charlie Douglas-Hughes batted really well again to make 73, but no-one gave him any support at the other end.

“It meant we only posted 133 and they just smashed it from ball one and didn’t really give us any chances.

“Had there been an early wicket or two it might have been different, but it wasn’t unfortunately.

“Witham are a team in good form and they are a decent side, but I feel we’re not far away.”

Three defeats in a row may not be the form that Halstead would want when they face the top-flight’s only side to have not dropped a point yet this year.

However, Wells is staying optimistic ahead of his team’s game against Sudbury.

He added: “It’s probably not the best time to face them but I think all we need is a bit of consistency.

“Different people have been performing each week and we need more consistency from everyone.

“But we’re not far away from getting the second win and we know it will come.

“I’m very optimistic that it will.”

Wells said Dave Elsbury and Darren Hutchison would come back into contention for the game against Sudbury.