Cricket: STUART Hammond was again the star of the show as he helped Tattingstone to their fifth successive victory in Division One of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship.

STUART Hammond was again the star of the show as he helped Tattingstone to their fifth successive victory in Division One of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship.

Hammond hammered an unbeaten 118, his second century of the summer and followed up his 86 not out last week in a ten-wicket success against Braintree.

This time Mistley had posted 197, but it

didn't make a lot of difference as Hammond and Ian Connell (43) put on 143, before

skipper Chris Bell (21) took Tattingstone to within 20 runs of their target. Adrian Stockton finished the job off in partnership with Hammond.

Mistley got close to 200 thanks to John Orriss (63) and Jon Douvlos (71), but the only other batsman to reach double figures was Phil Palmer (28). Steve Bell and Indian newcomer Darshan Shivalkar both took four wickets for Tattingstone.

Chris Bell was delighted by his team's

performance and felt that off-spinner Shivalkar added a new option to his bowling attack.

"He is a containing bowler, although he picked up four wickets on Saturday. We've had some really good batting wickets lately and I think he will prove to be very useful."

Sudbury are hot on the leaders' heels after another impressive performance, Grant Rowley scoring 173 in a total of 322 for seven at home to Bury seconds. Rowley now has 523 league runs at an average of 105 and he was supported by Ben Holt, who came in from the second XI to score 86. Bury were bowled out for 163 and a 159-run defeat.

There was a remarkable match at Panfield Lane as Braintree struggled to 77 all out – and then bowled out title-chasing Copdock & OIs for just 61.

Danny King and Dave Hale both took five wickets, with all ten wickets falling to catches. Copdock skipper John East said: "They just bowled brilliantly. They kept the ball in the right place and were very difficult to counter."

Batting first on a damp wicket, Braintree battled for 46.3 overs to score their 77.

Ian Butcher dropped anchor for 25 overs for his 26 runs but when he was out at 56 for four, the remaining six wickets crumbled for 21 runs.

Nick Grover (9.3-3-15-3), John Bell (12-2-19-2), James East (14-7-23-2) and John East (8-3-8-3) all returned impressive figures.

However, in reply they slumped to 37 for six when Tim Percival was caught by the only leg-side fielder. Neil Cox took his second sharp slip catch to make it 46 for seven, but John East and wicketkeeper Andy Burch added 14 valuable runs.

However, when that partnership was broken the remaining two wickets quickly followed as King (9.1-3-25-5) and Hale (10-0-35-5)

finished the job off.

Exning returned to winning ways at Wivenhoe, with Simon Lawson (58) and Nigel Lomas (54) putting on 84 for the first wicket. That set the foundation for a total of 243 for seven and Wivenhoe were never really in the hunt as they slipped to 125 all out. Lawson completed a good all-round day with four for 22 while teenager Sam Readman took three for 30.

Browns scored a confidence-boosting win over Halstead – but made hard work of it. The three-pronged attack of Brendan Meagher (five for 49), John Manning (three for 47) and Charlie Sadler (two for 51) combined well to dismiss the home side for 153 on a good

wicket, Robert Gregg top-scoring with 39.

Then Ed Flather (25) and Meagher (30) took the Browns reply to 44 before Dean Feneysey snapped up three quick wickets and the

visitors slumped to 70 for six when skipper Martyn Kidd came to the wicket.

It was soon 93 for seven, but then Kidd (34) and Sadler (18 not out) shared a partnership of 57 to take Browns to the verge of victory, which duly arrived with two wickets in hand.

"The bowlers had done ever so well, backed by good fielding," said Kidd. "But we don't need that sort of stress every week – we made hard work of it."

Division Two leaders, Ipswich & East Suffolk only scored 150 at Worlington, but that was enough as the home side were

dismissed for 97.

Coggeshall, who lost for the first time last week, returned to winning ways as Ollie Blackwell led the way with an imperious knock of 110, his third century of the season. Other minor contributions took the final tally to 233 for eight and then Elmstead Grasshoppers were dismissed for 127. Australian Nat Hill sent down seven overs for seven runs, while Will Blackwell took two for 19 with his left-arm wrist spin.

Frinton were given a good start by Colin Kelly (50) and then Tony Stubbs (69 not out) and Russell Everson (42 not out) added 72 in an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership to post 207 for three away to Mildenhall II.

Jem Sallis (51) and Lee Chipchase (42 not out) ensured that Mildenhall reached an extra batting point at 176 for six as Stubbs picked up four wickets.

Easton gained a comfortable seven-

wicket win at Witham, who struggled to 106 for nine, while in Division Three, Boxted gained a one-wicket win over Dunmow, while the St Margaret's total of 162 for four was overhauled by Copford for a three-wicket win.

Hadleigh found their batting form in Division Four, Richard Green and Richard Pettitt both scoring half-centuries and Robbie Smyth a quick 44 in a total of 235 for five. Sudbury seconds were bowled out for 162 in reply.

In Division Seven, 75-year-old Benny Hill claimed the best figures of a long career when he took eight for 44 in his side's

132-run win over Maldon fourths. At the other end of the age scale, 17-year-old James McNally scored a maiden century for Browns thirds in a friendly at Stowmarket in a match that finally fell foul of the weather.