Horndon-on-the-Hill 156

Hadleigh &Thundersley 160-5

(Hadleigh won by five wickets)

Hadleigh completed a comprehensive Premier League double over Horndon with this latest scalp.

The bowling exploits of Steve Brown (5-50) and Andy Mayers (2-23) helped contain Horndon's score to give Hadleigh a reachable goal and, in reply, the hosts made light work of sealing victory.

Overseas star Dev Ghandi gave his usual virtuoso performance with a quick-fire 85 and received great support form Paul Corps (46).

A Hadleigh spokesman summed up the day's proceedings, saying: "At the end of the day they set a target and we found it reasonably easy to beat it."

(Right) Full stretch - Horndon batsman Bip Keeping dives to stop himself being run out

(Left) Ron Barker - in action in the field for Hadleigh

Pictures: ELISE GOW

For more information about the Shepherd Neame Essex League, click here Division One: Batting duo destroy Southend's hopes

Old Southendian 170

Westcliff-on-Sea 174-6

(Westcliff won by four wickets)

Old Southendian gave a rare lacklustre batting performance as Westcliff's bowlers cashed in during this Division One encounter.

After opting to bat, Old Boys failed to deal with Westcliff's tricky deliveries.

Des Beckett, Old Boys' tried and tested run machine, managed a respectable 44 but the remainder of the order perished without making much impact.

Ben Clarke (4-57) and Tim Hills (4-49) did most of the good work with the ball for Westcliff, but it was hardly the most encouraging start for Westcliff when they came to the crease.

At one point the visitors were 41-4 and Old Boys may have scented a surprise victory.

But it was not to be as Tim Wade (55) and Julian Thornhill (34) put their side back on track.

In the end it left to Vince Bird, with an unbeaten 237, to steer his side to victory after Des Beckett had taken four wickets for 67.

Westcliff skipper Wade was delighted with his side's win - a result that pushed his side from third to top spot in the table..

"We bowled and fielded very well and that made all the difference", he said.

"We are nicely poised in the division at the moment but there is still a long way to go and we have yet to play some of the leading pack."

Westcliff turn their attention to third-placed Orsett - who lost on Saturday - next weekend, while the Old Boys travel to fourth-placed Chelmsford, who crashed to Wickford.

Division One: Billericay decimate in revenge mission

Brentwood 177-8 dec

Billericay 181-1

(Billericay won by nine wickets)

Billericay took sweet revenge for their five-wicket May defeat by Brentwood as their bowlers tore into the hosts' batting order.

Brentwood were never allowed to get into their stride as Adam Samoulle, Matt Hill and John Schmeichel claimed three wickets apiece.

The visitors then wasted little time in wrapping up victory as they passed Brentwood's total in just 35 overs for the loss of only one wicket.

John Walford was Billericay's star performer at the crease, adding 96 to the scoreboard.

Division One: Leaders crash to battling Wickford

Chelmsford 153

Wickford 156-3

(Wickford won by seven wickets)

Wickford gained revenge for their defeat at the hands of Chelmsford earlier in the season with a seven-wicket win at home.

A combination of economical bowling and a fine batting partnership from Mark Goddard and overseas player Alten Vermaak saw Wickford exorcise the ghosts of that defeat by the same margin on May 26.

"When we lost to them that started a bit of a hiccup to the season for us when we lost two or three games," said spokesman Dave Letch.

"They were top and we were bottom of the division going into the match and our players rose to the task."

Jamie Went rocked the visitors by claiming their opening three batsmen for 29 runs.

With Chelmsford on the back foot, Darren George (3-43), Goddard (3-24) and skipper Andy Baker (1-15, eight of which were wides) mopped up the resistance off 46.2 overs.

Matthew Bate (28) and Mark Evans senior (24) ensured the reply got off to a healthy start. But it was Goddard (52 not out) and South African player Vermaak (24 not out) who carried the home side past their target.

Division Two: Southend suffer second Upmister loss

Southend 207-5

Upminster 209-2

(Upminster won by eight wickets)

A strong performance from Upminster with the bat condemned Southend to their second defeat against the side this season.

Upminster won by 79 runs when the sides met at Southchurch Park on May 26 and the efforts of Australian Lorn Sprigg (85) and IAdams (62 not out) saw them to the double.

Southend lost the toss and were put into bat on a pitch which had been dampened by a brief shower before the match started.

Despite the conditions, the first wicket fell at 50 before Rupert Dukes (33) and third man Steve Whatton (38) boosted the innings.

But the real star was Mike Clarke, who had an unbeaten knock of 87.

With Southend on 207-5 at the end of their 52 overs, the hosts set about their target. They reached it off 45.5 overs.

"They were on 22-1 but we just could not capitalise on that," said Southend skipper Craig Porter.

"Once you decided you could score on that track it was difficult to shift you. We were hoping for a win but it was not to be."

Division Two: Batting stars light up Leigh stalemate

Leigh 258-4 dec

Walthamstow 194-6

(Match drawn)

Leigh overcome an early setback to secure maximum batting points from this draw at Walthamstow.

With the visitors on 23-2 at one point, Simon Burch (83) and Neil Goodman (106) combined to take Leigh to eight batting points.

Walthamstow started to attack their target in reply but realised they were not going to win the game once a few wickets fell.

Leigh's bowlers Ben Green and John Elliott both managed two wickets each with Alan Henley and Sean Elliott taking one each. But they could not take the last four wickets.

In the end Walthamstow were happy to play out for the draw - a repeat of the stalemate when they teams met at Chalkwell Park on May 26 - which saw the hosts take four points to Leigh's ten.

Skipper Adam Goodman was pleased with the overall result and saluted Burch and Goodman's performance, saying:"They batted excellently. It was the best I have ever seen them bat."

Praise was also given to 18-year-old bowler Sean Elliott who enjoyed a fine seven-over spell, limited to those 42 deliveries by ECB rules.

Division Three: Gray keeps Stanford in a strong position

Stanford-le-Hope 264-8 dec

Old Brentwoods 116-7

(Match drawn)

Stanford opener Peter Gray proved the cornerstone of the Stanford innings with a stand of 103.

The rest of the runs were shared fairly evenly around the Stanford batsmen as they took advantage of the Old Boys' attack before skipper Mark Lewis declared.

Old Brentwoods initially set about chasing their target but were eventually happy to settle for the draw.

With the Stanford bowlers unable to take the remaining three Old Brentwoods wickets in time, the game petered out into a stalemate.

Not that Stanford were complaining as the result kept them ahead of the pack chasing leaders Old Parkonians.

"We have got Buckhurst Hill next week and we will be looking to get a win out of that," said a Stanford spokesman.

"We beat them earlier in the season and will hopefully put them into bat and then chase the runs. But it could end in a draw if we are not careful."

Division Three: Bowling joy to no avail

Benfleet 171

Basildon & Pitsea 128-9

(Match drawn)

Basildon bowled a side out for the first time this season but it was not enough to prevent this derby ending in a stalemate.

Benfleet lost the toss and were put into bat. Opener Paul Tremain put on 22, while Trent Glover (31) and Mike Tremain (18) kept things ticking over after Nigel West went for a duck, an lbw victim.

The hosts were looking unsteady on 63-5 but Andy Scott shepherded the team through with a knock of 70, which included three sixes and six fours.

Lee Lewis led the attack for the new towners with 3-22 and there was success too for Ritchie Smith (2-43) and Wayne Morgan (2-67) as Benfleet were dismissed for 171.

Basildon's reply was 26-3 at one point but opener Paul Singleton stood firm to post 51, combining with skipper Paul Ayres (33) in a partnership of 60 for the fourth wicket.

Trent Glover led the Benfleet bowling with 3-25, with leg spinner Jonathan Edwards (3-59) and David Miles (2-17) adding weight to the attack.

But Benfleet were unable to capitalise as the ninth wicket fell on the last ball of the day.

Benfleet's Ron Steed said:"It was an evenly fought local derby. We were competitive and they do not want to stay bottom of the table, they showed that on Saturday. We are getting results and have got to keep going."

Basildon skipper Paul Ayres said:"We did not get off to a quick start but that was down to some tight bowling. It's nice not to lose but we did not get close enough to make it a game." He said players such as Nauman Javeed and Mark Ayres should return next week to bring the team to full strength.

By Paul Alton and Stuart Hillis

Reporters' e-mails: stuart.hillis@notes.newsquest.co.uk and paul.alton@newsquest.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.