SOUTHEND 234

STANFORD 127-9

(Match drawn)

Southend couldn't quite manage the victory, but still put some valuable distance between themselves and Third Division promotion rivals Stanford.

Second-placed Southend won the toss and elected to bat, with good scores coming across the board against third-placed Stanford's attack.

Aussie star Brad Everett (65) and Simon Duke (48) scored the most runs, but there were some fine cameos from Lee Stace (28) and Ben Wathen (23 not out).

Opening bowler Wathen's innings was particularly extravagant as he littered the boundary with fours and a six.

Defiant in the face of the Southend attack were Stanford's bowling duo of Martin Hathaway and skipper Mark Lewis, who took 3-93 and 2-53 respectively.

Wathen has been a revelation for Southend this season and followed up his batting show with another fine bowling haul as Stanford edged nervously along at a slow rate.

Quick bowler Wathen took 5-40 and was backed up by off-spinner Mike Gridley (2-20) as Southend put the Stanford innings on the rack.

At the start of the final over, Southend put themselves in a position to win the match as an early dismissal left them four balls to take the final match-winning wicket.

But the Stanford tail were having none of it and held on for the draw, although the result means they are now 20 points behind Southend in the race for promotion.

Southend skipper Craig Porter was not too downhearted not to get the final vital wicket, and was happy to score 12 points to Stanford's four.

He said: "We've put a bit of distance between ourselves and Stanford, but face a new challenge now in the shape of Ongar, who will be dangerous."

Ongar had an emphatic 101 run win at Woodford Green and are now just 12 points behind Southend in third place."

Quick flick - Southend push away another delivery in their draw with Stanford

Picture: MIKE BELLENIE

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