SOUTHEND IV 248-7

BENFLEET 85-9

(Match drawn)

Southend made the most of Benfleet's attack by hitting 248-7 off their 52 overs.

Kevin Salt (69) hit his First half-century for Southend and was helped by Rob Norman (41) and Roger Walcott (49 not out).

Benfleet found success by running out four batsmen.

In reply Benfleet struggled against the accurate bowling of Dean Johnson, who took a career best 8-21 of 21 overs, 11 of which were maidens.

Only John Prophet (17 not out) and D Richardson (14) got into double figures as Benfleet reached 85-9 after 49 overs.

On the run - Luke Daw (left) and Paul Ayres in action for Basildon during their nine-wicket defeat by Southend in their Essex League First XI Division Three match

Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

Bowling edges it for Old Southendian

SOUTHEND 126

OLD SOUTHENDIAN 128-7

(Old Southendian won by three wickets)

Southend only managed 126 runs before they were bowled out by a good Old Southendian attack.

Danny Giles did the most damage with 5-31 off 18 overs in what was only his second game of the season after breaking his ankle playing football.

Dave Singh (54), Steve Johnson (29) and John Horne (ten) were the only Southend batsmen to make it into double figures.

The Old Boys coasted to the win by making the required 128 of 40 overs.

Stuart Cannon (34) and D Sheppherd (20) were the leading run-getters for Old Southendian, with Mark Hardingham taking 3-21 off eight overs.

Billericay attack topples Woodford

BILLERICAY II 157

WOODFORD WELLS 142

(Billericay won by 15 runs)

This match favoured the bowlers and it was the Billericay attack which came out on top.

Mike Smith (18) and Paul Jackman (21) put on 46 for the first wicket, but then three wickets fell for only three more runs.

Skipper Colin Thornton (43) hit back with eight boundaries and was aided by James Gibbs (19), yet 177-3 quickly became 125-7 until John Butler (16) and Mark Mayhook took the innings past the 150 mark. Watkins (4-40) and Sutton (4-68) led the Woodford attack.

Adam Samouelle claimed two early wickets for Billericay, but then Price (30) and Hatton (40) steadied the Woodford ship.

Yet once the partnership was broken only Kilby (22) was the only other home batsmen to get into double figures.

Matt Hill (3-29) caught and bowled the last man, former Billericay player Ian Farmer, to clinch the narrow victory. Samouelle (3-33) and (4-21) also took wickets.

HAINAULT III 229-5 dec

BILLERICAY III 179-8

(Match drawn)

Billericay ran out of juice and time to overhaul Hainault and Clayhall's innings.

Ashraf (101), Naqui (40) and Whitehead (53 not out) piled on the runs for the home side, with only Nick Jowett (3-82) and Alan Davies (2-84) the only Billericay bowlers to find any success.

John Gould laid the foundations for the visitors' reply with 62 and five other batsmen scored between 15 and 21.

But at the end of the match it was about avoiding defeat and getting bonus points.

BILLERICAY IV 184

HAINAULT IV 185-5

(Hainault won by five wickets)

Just three Billericay batsmen made it into double figures as the side was bowled out by Hainault and Clayhall.

David Cole (36), Richard Walford (17) put on 51 for the second wicket, but then a collapse saw the team stumble to 99-5.

Barry Jowett (79) was well supported by John Pickup as he set about saving the innings. They reached 175 before Jowett ran himself out. Another nine runs were added before the fourths were bowled out.

Billericay claimed a wicket without score, but then Sirpal (23) and Olkfully (96 not out) put on 53.

Olkfully was then joined by Hussain (24) and the score increased by 74. Walford (3-25) struck back for Billericay, but the damage had already been done.

BILLERICAY V 217-8 dec

RAYLEIGH V 80

(Billericay won by 137 runs)

A much-changed and younger Billericay side overcame an even younger Rayleigh side.

The middle order was left to pick up the innings after linchpin and skipper Roger Hayward was dismissed with the second ball of the match.

Gary Mower (46), Alex Priddle (39), Ryan Bangs (27), Richard Steven (22) and Brian Garnett (18 not out) carried Billericay to their 217-8 declaration.

All the Rayleigh bowlers did well, but James layton shined with 2-50 from eight overs.

Wickets fell regularly to the Billericay bowlers, with only Roberts (21) making double figures. Bangs (3-12), Steven (2-7) and Peter Stratton (2-12) were the most successful Billericay bowlers.

Poole pipped six short of century

BASILDON II 221-6 dec

WEST ESSEX II 164-9

(Match drawn)

John Poole made a splash for Basildon and Pitsea's seconds when he knocked a fine 94 at Mopsies Park.

His score formed the foundation of the innings, with Ryan Porter (44) and Ian Anderson (42 not out) adding handy performances.

G Eversden was the biggest threat to the Basildon wickets with his figures of 3-66 off 13 overs before the new towners declared on 221-6.

S Sarwar (30) and M Micus (23) led the West Essex reply although the Chingford side had reached 164-9 at the close of play.

Richard Parkinson had a good ten-over spell with the ball, which included two maidens among figures of 5-24.

Rob Jones took 3-39 off 11 overs, three of which were maidens.

Basildon and Pitsea thirds were without a game.

BASILDON IV 238-2 dec

WICKFORD IV 150

(Basildon won by 88 runs)

Robin Hackshall was the star batsman for Basildon and Pitsea as he hit an unbeaten 125.

George Salmon added an unbeaten 66 which let Basildon declare on 238 for the loss of two wickets after 41 overs at the Patmore Memorial Ground.

M Vickers (31) and R Debenham (31) led the Wickford innings, but their side was eventually bowled out for 150.

Darren Smith took 5-45 from his 12 over stint and F Smith enjoyed an economical spell taking 2-7 including four maidens off seven overs.

ESSEX CARRIERS 154

BASILDON 157-8

(Basildon won)

Table-topping Basildon and Pitsea held onto top spot after winning this Reefers 90 Sunday League match with an over to spare.

Basildon reached their target in the 39th over and with two wickets in hand after bowling out their hosts.

Seventeen-year-old captain Luke Daw set the pace with 47, while Tony Williams (29) and Richie Lambert (21 not out) added useful knocks.

Appleton (4-0-18-3), Alan (9-5-14-2) and G Toplis (9-3-29-2) did the most damage, but were unable to stop Basildon winning.

Earlier Carriers had seen M Blerkom (43) and S Mitchell (27) top score.

Basildon's best bowling came from Ryan Porter (8.2-0-33-3), Lee Lewis (9-4-21-2), Daw (8-0-25-2) and Kevin Lambert (9-3-28-1).

Batsmen turn in big hits

SOUTHEND II 248-6 dec

CHINGFORD II 149-7

(Match drawn)

Southend batted first and found some form which allowed them to declare on 248-6 after 47 overs.

Simon Humby (28) and Ian Heiser (38) put on 62 for the first wicket before Steve Laflin took just 22 minutes to reach his 50 on the way to 85.

Wayne Spear (48) joined Laflin and the partnership added 111 for the third wicket, while the only Chingford bowler to have any joy was R McGregor, who took 3-69 off 18 overs.

Chingford had trouble dealing with Southend's varied attack, with the exception of S Piper, who mustered 45 runs out of his side's 148-7 off 48 overs.

Colin Marshall took 3-38 off 11 overs and Heiser claimed 3-32 off a dozen overs.

SHOEBURYNESS 206-7

SOUTHEND 210-3

(Southend won by seven wickets)

Southend regained the Nigel Reader Trophy from Shoeburyness after reaching their target with 17 deliveries left in this annual match.

Neil Walden top scored with 60 runs for Shoeburyness as they reached 206-7 from their allotted 40 overs. Ben Wathen took 2-22 and Gavin Lee 5-40.

Southend needed 38.1 overs to hot the target thanks to Jamie Holmwood's unbeaten 81. This was backed up by Wayne Spear (49), Newman Khan (33) and Wathen (33 not out).

Top figure for birthday

BROOMHILL 241-9 dec

CHING HOPPERS 116-9

(Match drawn)

Dave Wilkins celebrated his 50th birthday on Saturday night and went out the next day to get his best score in 35 years of playing cricket.

Wilkins, the Southend wicketkeeper, had an unbeaten 15 knock for Ching Hoppers as they reached 116-9 while chasing Broomhill's 241-9 declared.

Jason Biggs took 4-17 and Rupert Duke 4-32 for Broomhill.

Biggs (82), Simon Duke (76) and Jeremy Lawford (50) had earlier set Broomhill on their way.

Attack tricky for Old Boys

SAFFRON WALDEN II 178

OLD SOUTHENDIAN 116

(Saffron Walden won by 62 runs)

The visitors recovered from an alarming 35-4 to beat Old Southendian at Southchurch Park.

M Wright (54) and G Douglas (29) were the architects of the comeback after Rob Naylor (2-14 off 14 overs) and Chris Sawyer (2-7 off six overs) got among the Walden wickets.

Walden were eventually dismissed for 178 after 52 overs, but the Old Boys had trouble dealing with the attack of M and J Rowlandson, who took 5-39 and 3-29 respectively.

Only Steve Tomlin (21) and Sawyer (21) were able to profit as Old Southendian were bowled out for 116 off 39 overs.

OLD SOUTHENDIAN 200-9

PEGASUS 194

(Old Southendian won by six runs)

Pegs were bowled out in this Essex Sunday League match with just one ball remaining.

M Cairns put on 64 and Turnbull added 32 as Pegasus fell a boundary short of tying the match.

The wickets were shared among the bowlers, with Russell Dennis, Des Beckett, Ian Vaughan and George Gosling all claiming a brace.

Earlier Australian player Vaughan had top scored with 62, while Jonathan James (33) and Beckett (30) added to the innings which saw the Old Boys reach 200-9 from their allotted 45 overs.

Dixon (3-34) took the last three Old Boys' wickets with the last three balls of their innings.

GALLEYWOOD 184

OLD SOUTHENDIAN II 104-8

(Match drawn)</STRONG

Old Boys' Sunday seconds were forced to settle for a draw after bowling out Galleywood for 184.

Tapley had carried Galleywood's innings with 105 and Steve Tomlin was the top Old Southendian bowler with 2-35.

Terry Hammond jnr found himself in the unusual position of opening the Old Boys' batting and made 25.

Robert Johnston added an unbeaten 29 in a long innings, while Dillon 4-24 led the Galleywood attack.

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