Wanstead and Snaresbrook have slipped to third after falling to a second consecutive defeat, losing by seven wickets at Colchester and East Essex

Wanstead and Snaresbrook have slipped to third after falling to a second consecutive defeat, losing by seven wickets at Colchester and East Essex on Saturday.

After suffering their first loss of the league campaign the previous weekend, Joe Ellis-Grewal’s men were again beaten after a poor all-round display.

Inserted after losing the toss, openers John Chambers (4) and Arfan Akram (15) failed to fire – as did Saurav Prabhakar (2) at three.

It was not until Hassan Chowdhury (55) at four that a Wanstead batsman put on a knock of note.

Struggling on 84 for four, the middle order did at least show some fight but Wanstead closed on 221 for eight.

A century from Harry Bush (108) in reply put Wanstead on the back foot and even Zain Shahzad’s pair of wickets came at the expense of 55 runs in ten overs.

The hosts looked in control and wrapped up the points with a total of 227 for three.

Alexander Maskell’s quick-fire 89 carried Buckhurst Hill to a last-gasp three-wicket win at Ilford.

Hendro Puchert (83) and Nigel Jacobs (118) had put Ilford in control with big knocks and the home side eventually closed their innings with an imposing total of 280 for three.

However, Buckhurst Hill shared the runs around and batting at three, Maskell made 89 from just 67 deliveries to get his side going.

Willem Scholtz added 47 and a further 67 from Jamie Allen had Buckhurst Hill on their way to a winning total of 281 for seven, sealing the points with four balls to spare.

South Woodford make light work of clinching a seven-wicket victory over Loughton, who themselves put in a dismal batting display.

Inserted, Loughton started sluggishly and never recovered from losing Ubaid Ur Rehman Kiani (2).

With the visitors on two for one, South Woodford continued to turn the screw and once Matthew Schubert (20) and Mahmad Ali Khail (10) were dismissed, it was one-way traffic.

Jordan Price (two for nine), Krishan Vadher (three for 17) and Harry Shirt (two for 18) all impressed with the ball, removing the home side for a pitiful 72.

South Woodford might have made easier work of wrapping up the win but lost three wickets before getting home with 77 for three; Dane Watson (35) top scored.

Late-order resistance saw Chingford come perilously close to pulling off a result at home to Harold Wood before eventually succumbing to an 11-run defeat.

Lenny Daniels (two for 38) and Mubasher Hassan (two for 45) had some success for the home side with the ball but Wood were still able to put up a total of 222 for nine in their 50 overs.

Chingford’s reply got off to a below-par start as Alfie Taylor (13) and Jack Potticary (23) were both removed cheaply.

Further wickets followed with Ben MacGregor (0), Hassan (11), Chris Baldock (6), Andrew MacGregor (0) and Jay Edmonds (6) all failing to get to grips with the Wood attack.

However, Jack Preddey (72 not out) and Liam Lannen (51) batted defiantly as the tail wagged and for a time it looked as though Chingford were set for an unlikely result. However, those hopes ended as the hosts were finally removed for 211.

Division Two

A half-century from Terry Ballard set Fives and Heronians on their way to a 45-run triumph over Harlow Town.

Pete Kilpatrick (44) and Ballard (58) opened well for Fives after losing the toss and further runs were laid on by Gary Edwards (26), Jake Poulter (24) and Ali Raza (20 not out) as they reached 282 for nine.

It was an equally encouraging opening to their innings from Harlow, who saw openers Shiraz Ali (49) and Ashley Alderson (48) both fell narrowly short of half-centuries.

But Selvam Ramasamy (three for 24) and Sarfaraz Ahmed (three for 31) soon nipped that in the bud with dangerous stints at the crease, accounting for the away side for 237.

Epping's Ricky Ellis keeps his eyes on the ball against Oakfield Parkonians. Picture: David Loveday

Division Three

Oakfield Parkonians were irresistible as they trounced Epping by a huge 231 runs away from home.

Few would have predicted such a crushing win as opener Faisal Bhatti (0) was dismissed for a duck but Sachin Vara (54) and Haris Khan (64) seized the initiative.

Rana Muhammed Arslan (85) and Jibran Azam (104) then took charge of proceedings, the duo laying on rapid runs to help Parks to an intimidating total of 360 for eight.

Epping were never able to threaten Parks’ score though, with Abdul Rehman Razzaq (four on 15) the star for the away side as the home side were all out for 129.

Ikram Adam and Abdul Gafangaf combined at the tail to give West Essex a one-wicket win over Basildon and Pitsea.

Gafangaf had already taken a hat-trick in returning figures of five for 34 as he and Sejid Mehmood (three for 46) destroyed the Basildon line-up.

Opening the batting after winning the toss, Basildon were all out for 192, leaving West Essex with a very attainable target.

And reach it they did, posting 194 for nine in reply, the combination of Adam (19) and Gafangaf (30) carrying the away side to victory.

Woodford Green’s batting left them with a mountain to climb and they eventually lost by nine wickets at home to Old Southendian and Southchurch.

Amrit Ryatt (29), Hamza Hussain (47) and Jack Cossey (20) were the only batsmen to have any real joy with the bat and the home side were removed for 174.

Max Craddock put up 108 from 85 balls in reply and, inevitably, Woodford Green fell to defeat as Southendian clinched the points with 175 for one.