Essex League - Premier Division

Chingford are off to a winning start after beating Chelmsford by 31 runs away from home.

Chelmsford elected to bowl and that looked like a good decision as the hosts skittled through Chingford’s middle order with only Alfie Taylor (34) making double figures.

Andrew MacGregor came in at eight and put on a useful 20 not out but Chelmsford would still have been happy with their target of 124.

However, the home side were just as careless with the bat and Ben MacGregor was the primary beneficiary, taking a brilliant five wickets for 14 runs.

There were also two wickets each for Lenny Daniels and Ryan Harris, as well as one for Liam Lennen, as Chelmsford were all out for 93.

Chingford face Colchester and East Essex on Saturday.

A solid run-chase saw South Woodford beat Brentwood by three wickets.

Brentwood batted first but none of their batsman were able to make a significant impact as three wickets apiece for Harry Shirt and Nick Browne restricted Woodford’s opponents to 108 all out.

Brentwood started brightly in the field but Ashley Leat (19) and Michael Gymer (26) steadied the ship for Woodford to reached the total with three wickets left.

South Woodford play Buckhurst Hill on Saturday.

Essex League - First XI Division One

Andrew Baars’ brilliant unbeaten 138 failed to prevent Woodford Wells from losing to Loughton by one wicket.

Wells batted first and Baars’ century was backed with an important 67 from Rory Ellison as the hosts posted 258 from their 50 overs.

The rain meant that total was revised and Loughton took full advantage as Mohammed Hafeez (72), Hafiz Yawar Afzal (59) and Bilal Butt (41) saw the visitors to victory with just one wicket to spare.

Tom Clark and Matthew Reid-Evans led the Woodford attack, claiming three wickets each.

Woodford Wells play against Hadleigh & Thundersley on Saturday while Loughton take on Orsett.

Fives & Heronians edged over the line to beat Orsett by one wicket.

Orsett batted first and were held to 158 all out thanks to three wickets from Jamie Porter and some good bowling from Jonny Kay (two for 27), Sajid Aziz (two for 39) and Stuart Knapman (two for 22).

A shaky start saw Fives ten for three but Christopher White (24) stabilised the innings before Porter backed up his bowling performance to score an unbeaten 34 and guide Fives to a tight victory.

Fives are up against Wickford on Saturday.

Essex League - First XI Division Three

Old Parkonians’ excellent batting display ensured a 167-run home win over Epping.

Epping won the toss and elected to bowl, a decision that would come back to haunt them as Parkonians made 298 for five wickets from 50 overs.

All five batsman made decent scores with Haris Khan (76) and James Foley (77) doing the most damage. Epping’s Azzar Malik took two wickets for 73 runs.

The visitors never really got going in their reply and despite a late stand from Ali Raza (30 not out) and Dipesh Bidiwala (20), Epping were convincingly beaten.

Old Parkonians play Stalybridge St Pauls on Saturday, Epping host Harlow Town.

Woodford Green recorded an 87-run victory over Westcliff-on-Sea with Masood Qazi scoring a century.

Qazi’s 116 from 88 balls put Woodford firmly in the driving seat before Leon Davies added a valuable 52 and the hosts set a target of 278.

Woodford dominated in the field too as Amrit Ryatt (two for 45) removed two of the top three before Aamir Latif (three for 49) came to the fore.

With Westcliff in trouble on 191 for seven rain and bad light stopped play but Woodford were declared winners with a superior run rate.

On Saturday Woodford Green travel to West Essex who registered a 42-run win over Basildon & Pitsea.

West Essex were bowled out for 204 which proved too much for Basildon who were dismissed for 162.