Stradbroke continue to stutter

Stradbroke slipped to their third Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship Division Nine West defeat in a row on Saturday.

After losing away at Lakenheath II on June 16, the Vikings had a swift chance to gain some revenge against the league leaders at their Wilby Road base.

However, after being bowled out for just 119 runs, Stradbroke were unable to make major inroads during the Lakenheath innings as the visitors eventually ran out winners by eights wickets.

Stradbroke skipper Matt Wise won the toss and elected to bat first on what was a tough pitch.

Nevertheless, Wise scored a brisk 22, and along with opening partner Michael Hugman (27) they added 42 for the first wicket, leaving the hosts on 67-1.

At this point instinct suggested spin would hold the key, and that proved to be the case for Lakenheath’s father-and-son duo of Sean Palmer (3-21) and Ben Palmer (3-24), who slowly whittled out the batting.

A crawl to 119 in 38 overs showed a willingness to fight in awkward conditions, but it was never going to be enough as the pitch settled down for the visitors’ innings.

Six Stradbroke bowlers tried to make significant breakthroughs, but Lakenheath’s batting line-up was just too strong.

Mark Milner (58no) hit cleanly and although two fine catches were held by the fielding side, Palmer junior hit an eye catching unbeaten 25 to finish the contest in just 25 overs.

The defeat – Stradbroke’s fifth of the 2018 campaign – has seen them slip down to sixth position in the standings.

The team does not have a game this weekend, with their return to action set to be on July 14 away at the side directly above them – Haverhill III.

Stradbroke will head into that contest having not tasted victory since their 49-run triumph at the expense of Bury St Edmunds IV on June 9.