Billericay eased into the third round of the Essex League Cup with an emphatic win over Second Division Hornchurch, a result that didn't look in any doubt once the home side had posted a total well in excess of 200.

Batting first the right and left-handed combination of the Walford brothers, Jon and Richard, got Billericay off to a solid start as they put on 64 before the partnership was broken with Richard dismissed for 18.

Jon looked in excellent form as he reached his half century off 78 balls.

He was well supported by his colleagues who all chipped in without getting a big score, and Walford was eventually out for a well made 64.

However at 153-6 Billericay looked a touch vulnerable, but a seventh wicket partnership that added 58 soon put a better complexion on proceedings.

Young Jon Butler (41) dominated proceedings and continued the fine form he showed in his innings in the second XI last week.

Adam Samouelle (21) made useful runs at number nine to take his side through to the close, which came one ball short of the full allocation of 45 overs.

For the visitors, Whitlock (4-64) and Kiff (3-42) were the pick of the bowlers.

The Hornchurch reply was undermined almost immediately as the first five wickets went down with just 36 runs on the board.

Destroyer-in-chief was Samouelle who ripped out three of those and finished with the excellent figures of four for 17.

The home side were then in the comfortable position to treat the match as practice for the forthcoming Premier League campaign and give all the bowlers a run-out.

Lofthouse (34 not out) and Whitlock (34) also seemed intent on using the opportunity to get some valuable time in the middle and built a partnership of 46 for the sixth wicket.

Once they were parted the end appeared to be close, however Billericay were held up by a ninth wicket partnership of 24 that saved Hornchurch from being bowled out.

The inaugural Premier League competition begins this Saturday, with Billericay hosting Saffron Walden in a match that starts at 11.30am and encompasses 120 overs.

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