BILLERICAY 170 all out

GIDEA PARK 172-4

(Gidea Park won by 6 wickets)

Billericay remain in next to last place after failing to capitalise on a cracking start - but no-one at the club is panicking.

Bowler Gary Marshall said:"There are nine games left and 108 points available and we're confident of winning a few of those. Any talk of relegation at this stage is premature."

After being put into bat and losing their First wicket in the opening over, Billericay bounced back with a solid second wicket stand between Richard Swile and Nathan Batson.

Swile (75) and ex-skipper Batson (34) put on 91 until the latter was controversially stumped just before tea.

At this stage Billericay were handily placed, but lunch obviously didn't agree with them.

After returning to the crease they lost three quick wickets before the score hit 130. Leg-spinner Luke Sweeney (6-21) was their principal tormentor.

Skipper Ian Pont (14) and Danny Pryke (15) added further runs for Billericay, who had Gidea Pk in some trouble in their reply.

Andy Hibbert, brilliantly run out by Pryke on 23, had scored well, but Gidea were vulnerable at 53-3.

However, Guy Churchill (a sensible 34 not out) and Misbah (55 not out) steered Gidea home - despite good bowling from Marshall (2-40)and Pryke (1-23).

Disappointed Marshall said:"We felt 170 on that track was a competitive score because it wasn't easy to get runs on the long outfield.

"We bowled tidily and fielded well but Churchill and Misbah accelerated the scoring."

Gandhi's efforts are not enough

WANSTEAD 266-7

HADLEIGH 134 all out

(Wanstead won by 132 runs)

Even the welcome return to form of Indian Test cricketer Devang Gandhi couldn't stop Hadleigh's unlucky defeat to the leaders.

Gandhi hit an impressive 84, while team-mate Ronnie Barker weighed in with 22 as Hadleigh made a fair attempt to reach Wanstead's total.

But it was soon goodnight to both of them as the home side's bowling attack ripped the innings apart with a healthy total of lbw decisions.

Of eight leg befores in the match, Wanstead grabbed six and Arif Saeed (6-36) was the beneficiary of most of them.

Spokesman Jon Wagstaff said:"It was disappointing to lose because we looked like hanging on for the draw at one stage.

"But Wanstead are a strong side and you have to remember it's only our second loss of the year."

He added:"Ifelt the scoreline didn't really reflect the nature of the match and it was great to see Dev back in form."

Hadleigh had won the toss and put Wanstead into bat - a decision that appeared justified as the leaders reached 126-4 at tea.

But Wanstead came out with all guns blazing after the interval, with Essex county's number two wicketkeeper, Jamie Foster, leading the charge with 93.

John Hinton then came on to crack a quick-fire 64 from just 47 balls as Hadleigh were set quite a daunting total.

This came despite good bowling from Steve Brown (3-85) and batting star Gandhi, who continued his excellent form with the ball to take 2-73.

Gandhi then took up his bat to anchor the innings and a draw looked on the cards as Hadleigh moved to 133-6.

But forces conspired against Hadleigh, who lost Gandhi and three other wickets to Saeed in the last two overs to scupper any thoughts of salvaging a tie.

Saeed's tally included a hat-trick of lbw decisions in the final over.

Division One: Stitson leads by example

BRENTWOOD 103

HORNDON 104-5

(Horndon won by five wickets)

Skipper Dave Stitson refused to get carried away after Horndon maintained their lead at the top of the division.

"It's only just over halfway through the season and there's a long way to go yet," he said.

"Three weeks ago we were near the bottom and now we're the leaders. It's very tight, but I hope we can still be there at the end."

Skipper Stitson led by example as Horndon suffered a few hiccups in reply to the poor Brentwood total.

The opening batsman scored 70 to steer his team home after they failed to capitalise on a promising start and lost several wickets in mid-innings.

A much worse collapse had befallen Brentwood, who had slumped from a solid 47-0 to 103 all out.

Doing the damage with the ball were left-arm seamer Mark Warren, who took 5-41 from 23 overs, and Kevin Price, who weighed in with four wickets.

Price later shone with the bat as Horndon threatened to make hard work of their reply, hitting two vital boundaries in partnership with Stitson.

Cliff Jeyes, with 25, had earlier helped his skipper set the platform for the innings.

Top order failure halts Leigh

LEIGH 200-7 dec

COLCHESTER 202-3

(Colchester won by 7 wickets)

Leigh suffered the worst possible result prior to next week's derby with Westcliff when a top order collapse left them a mountain to climb.

Batting first, the team from Southchurch Park were soon in trouble at 6-3 as Colchester ripped into their openers.

It left the rest of the team with an uphill struggle, but they fought on gamely to post a respectable score of 200.

Neil Jackson (51 not out), Alan Henley (47), Lee Wilson (32) and Mark Sexton (28) all contributed as Leigh secured a useful eight batting points with the total.

But the tally never looked like being enough and Colchester cruised to victory with seven wickets and five overs to spare.

Leading their charge with a solid 67 was Essex county player Ian Flanagan, although Leigh had one of those days when they had no luck on the bowling front.

Skipper Simon Burch said:"We batted and bowled pretty well and if we'd been able to get a few early wickets I think it would have been a different story.

"But we got nine points from the match and Ithink I would have been reasonably happy with that had we drawn the game, so I'm not going to be too downhearted."

Wickford knocked off top by Westcliff

WICKFORD 74

WESTCLIFF 77-2

(Westcliff won by eight wickets)

The closeness of the battle for Division One was illustrated by this astonishing game.

Wickford, who led the division at the start of play, were not only beaten by Westcliff, but beaten well.

But the most surprising news was that the result dropped them from leaders to sixth spot - an incredible drop for just one game.

In contrast Westcliff moved up three places to second spot - after being in the bottom half of the table just a few weeks ago.

Skipper TimWade said:"It's so close at the top that current league positions are irrelevant. It should make for an interesting run-in."

All of Westcliff's players shone on the day, but none more so than promising all-rounder Jon Pratt.

Seamer Pratt, 24, took 5-25 with the ball and scored an unbeaten 24 with the bat. Then, just for good measure, he also took three catches at first slip.

It was a just reward for Pratt, who played in Australia last year for Cambellton, Sydney, alongside current team-mate Steve Green.

Overseas player Green also enjoyed a fruitful day, hitting an undefeated 34 as he and Pratt steered Westcliff past Wickford's total with ease.

To be fair, Wickford had made a promising start and stood at 70-5 before Pratt and fellow seamer Vince Bird (4-8) took them apart.

The club was not too downhearted by the defeat and believe the best is yet to come once injuries and absences clear up.

First teamer Ian Letch, who was forced to watch on the sidelines with injury, said:"The pitch favoured the bowlers early on and we suffered a major batting collapse.

"But we've still got every chance of returning to the top flight at the first attempt.

"We've got several first team players out with injury at the moment and once they come back we'll' get back on track.

"It's so close that just one win is all it takes to get up there and it's not like last season when we kept slipping."

The result means Wickford are now ten points adrift of Westcliff, who are second, and just five behind third-placed South Woodford.

After this victory, the promising youngWestcliff side turn their attentions to next week's derby game with fellow Southchurch Park outfit Leigh.

The two clubs have been playing each other since the 1920s, but the game should be even more hard-fought this year with both sides in the hunt for promotion.

Before the storm - Wickford's Gary Patten defends his wicket before his team's unfortunate collapse

Picture: MIKE BELLENIE

Division Two: Old Boys ease to third straight win

OLD SOUTHENDIANS 169-9

ARDLEIGH GREEN 108 all out

(Old Boys won by 61 runs)

Jubilant skipper Chris Bunce paid tribute to his bowlers after Old Boys secured their third win in a row.

On a damp wicket, they skittled out visiting Ardleigh for just 108 - with the wickets shared around among the team.

Bunce said:"Normally batting is our strength, but the bowlers delivered the victory this time."

Leading the bowling purge was Dave Slaughter, who took 3-14, but there were also wickets for Dave Evans (2-37), Des Beckett (2-21) and James Blackmore (2-16).

Blackmore enjoyed a fruitful weekend with both bat and ball, having earlier knocked an excellent 46 in the Old Boys' innings.

The seaside club also benefitted from solid scores by skipper Bunce (41), Ian Bourne (14) and Andy Hathaway (11), although everyone contributed to the respectable final tally of 169.

These knocks came in the face of strong bowling from ArdleighGreen's A Gohar (4-38), S Brown (2-32)and KMitchell (2-45).

But if Ardleigh thought they were in with a chance of overtaking the Old Boys' total, they were soon in for a shock as Bunce's men ripped into their line-up at will.

Only G Apicella (20) and Gavin Castle (19) made any sort of impression against the Old Boys attack.

Victory was secured with five overs remaining and the 18pts for victory proved to be more than useful.

"It's been a very handy weekend because we've closed the gap on leaders Ilford, who picked up only four points," explained skipper Bunce.

"We've also extended our lead over third-placed Upminster and Walthamstow.

Striking out - Old Southendians' Alan Draycott hits out in his side's comfortable win over Ardleigh Green

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

Division Three: Southend lose second place

SOUTHEND 84 all out

ONGAR 86-3

(Ongar won by 7 wickets)

Southend's batting collapse allowed rivals Ongar to leapfrog them into second place.

Expecting more rain to fall later in the day, Southend skipper Craig Porter decided to bat first to give his side the best of the wicket.

But the plan backfired as Southend were skittled out for just 84 - leaving Porter with much to ponder.

He said:"As it happened there was no more rain and the wicket got easier later on.

"But you can't live on hindsight. We didn't bat particularly well and they bowled excellently."

Only Numan Khan (28)scored a respectable total as Southend laboured in the face of a smart two-pronged bowling attack of JStewart (6-33) and DMitchell (4-37).

Ongar were never going to have too much trouble in reaching the target, but Southend put in a game effort, Lee Stace taking 2-31 with the ball.

Southend, in the midst of a mini slump, slipped to third as a result of this setback and their loss to Stanford last weekend.

Porter said:"It was disappointing to lose in that manner.We've a tendency to lose matches rather than be beaten.

"We've now got eight games left and it's important to get four or five wins, starting next week against Basildon."

Basildon can't find the right mix

BASILDON 149 all out

WOODFORD GREEN 150-3

(Woodford Gn won by 7 wickets)

Basildon just can't find that elusive mix between good bowling and batting.

Against fellow strugglers Woodford Green they took three quick wickets but were once again kicking themselves after failing to capitalise.

Skipper Mark Ayres said:"Our batting is improving but we just can't bowl teams out at the moment. It's just a matter of getting both right on the same day."

Basildon had been put into bat and were firing along nicely until Jon Good (17) injured his calf muscle.

The run rate then slowed considerably and the loss of three quick wickets put Basildon on the back foot.

Dave Murdock hit 23 and Lee Lewis an undefeated 25 to steady the nerves but Basildon could only post an eventual total of 149.

Woodford struggled early on in their reply as Ayres (1-19),Murdock (1-36) and Lewis (1-16) took three wickets.

But a determined fourth-wicket stand from MMcKinnon (57 not out) and BBhavin (63 not out) steered them home to leave Ayres disappointed once again.

"We just couldn't finish them off, although we were unfortunate to have dropped a couple of chances," he said.

"We even dropped McKinnon twice."

"It's disappointing because we've got to start beating teams who are near the bottom with us. "

Next week Basildon face Southend, one of the division's leading clubs.

Batting collapse thwarts Benfleet

BENFLEET 107

HARLOW 108-2

(Harlow won by eight wickets)

Benfleet's late collapse cost them dearly as they put up a brave battle against the division leaders.

After being asked to bat, Dave Nash (32) and skipper Mike Tremain (15) had put on 42 for the fourth wicket as Benfleet threatened to post a sizeable total.

But it all went pear-shaped as they fell from 85-3 to 107 all out, leaving a strong Harlow side with little work to do to secure the win.

Ron Steed, who took 2-17 for Benfleet, said:"It's a shame because we were looking at a score of around 175 at one stage.

"It was just injudicious shots that cost us and we didn't have much of a total to defend.

"On paper we have good depth in our batting but I've got a feeling skipper Mike Tremain may now tweak the batting order."

Nihesh Odedra (60)and wicketkeeper TerryWrist (28) plundered the runs as Harlow reached their total with eight wickets remaining.

But Benfleet bowled well without luck and Troy Burns deserved a wicket for his hostile spell.

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