Newly-promoted Wickford are going great guns at the top of the First Division after winning each of their first three games.

Hitting out - Hadleigh batsman Kim Bazeley strikes a blow against Wickford

But they were given a real game by Hadleigh and Thundersley, who came down from the Premier last season, at the John Burrows Ground.

Wickford were going great guns at 70 without loss after 12 overs, but then lost ex-Essex star Chris Gladwin in unusual circumstances.

He was given out obstructing the field having made 41 when he put up his bat to stop the ball hitting him when he made his way back to the crease after Kim Beazleigh had refused a quick single.

That did not stop Wickford too much as Beazleigh weighed in with 72 and Steve Hammond an unbeaten 36. Top bowler for the hosts was Dev Gandhi with 4-61 while Neil Harding chipped in with a couple of wickets.

Gandhi made a sterling effort to win the game for Hadleigh almost single-handedly. He made 101, but could find little support -- particularly when Paul Baker was stumped for 15.

Paul Corps weighed in with 18 but Hadleigh finished 32 runs short.

Published Monday May 24, 2004

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