Woodford Wells Seconds remain in with a strong shout for promotion after eking out a two-wicket home win over Chingford Seconds

Woodford Wells Seconds remain in with a strong shout for promotion after eking out a two-wicket home win over Chingford Seconds.

Currently fourth, Wells are just 35 points off the last automatic promotion spot, currently inhabited by Wanstead and Snaresbrook Seconds.

Sixty-one from Alex Agedah and 49 from Malik Kashif Jamal gave the visitors a reasonable total of 234 for nine to defend.

And it looked as though they might after the bowling of Neil Dial (three for 45) and Christopher Stephens (three for 44) had Woodford Wells teetering. But they got home, thanks to Robert Leiper (76), to post 236 for eight.

South Woodford Seconds lost by five wickets at home to Chelmsford Seconds despite two half-centuries.

Michael Browne (50) and Joe Mariani (59) were unable to stop South Woodford slumping to an underwhelming total of 185 for seven before Chelmsford made 186 for five in reply.

Bilal Patel hit 75 to steer Wanstead and Snaresbrook Seconds to a five-wicket win at Southend-on-Sea & EMT Seconds which leaves them in the second automatic promotion spot.

Chasing 201 all out thanks to the bowling of Adam Lord (three for 20), Wanstead lost both openers cheaply in a faltering start.

However, Patel (75) and Matthew Smith (64) came to the crease further down the order and sealed the win with 202 for five.

Second XI Division One

Adam Marnock inspired Buckhurst Hill Seconds to a 52-run home win over Hornchurch Seconds.

A less-than-impressive start with the bat by Buckhurst Hill was resurrected by Marnock, whose unbeaten 78 inspired the home side to close on a good total of 242 for eight.

The bowling of Sam Sullivan (three for 24) and Daniel Golding (three for 32) then reduced the visitors to 190 all out to seal a comfortable margin of victory.

Loughton Seconds slipped to a 64-run defeat at Ilford Seconds and it could have been a lot worse had it not been for two half-centuries in the middle order.

The home side put on a good total of 253 for seven, despite Harry Watson finishing with four for 56.

But Loughton were dire with the bat and only the displays of Rohail Anwar (55) and Watson (55) enabled them to reach 189 all out – still well short of the required score.

Fives and Heronians Seconds remain miserably bottom of the pile after losing yet again, this time by three wickets at home to Orsett Seconds.

Jack Dennis (50) and R.Allum (64 not out) batted well to reach their half-centuries as Fives made it to 225 for five from their 45 overs.

Allum (three for 32) and James McKay (two for 60) had some success with the ball but a stubborn Orsett side made it to 321 with three wickets remaining to see out the win.

Second XI Division Two

Valiant middle-order batting was not enough for West Essex Seconds, who lost out by 42 runs at Harold Wood Seconds.

The home side put up an intimidating total of 309 for seven, thanks chiefly to Afra Malik’s unbeaten 117 from just 94 balls.

Facing the prospect of having to bat out the innings for a draw, West Essex made a far from ideal start when Miftha Islam (11) was dismissed.

The middle-order combination of Kabir Khan (30), Adnan Ali (42) and Zain Saleem (49) provided West Essex with some cause for optimism, though.

Ultimately that optimism was extinguished as the tail failed to wag and the visitors closed on 267 for eight.

Second XI Division Three

Oakfield Parkonians Seconds breezed to a 167-run trouncing of Woodford Green Seconds thanks to James Foley’s huge 151.

Foley was the star of the Parks innings and with Shane Vamadevan (66) and Sahil Handa (31) for support, the third man in thrived.

Having put up 354 for four, Parks set about removing their hosts in order to wrap up a routine win.

Eshun Kalley (three for 43) and Anton Buntin (two for 34) proved Woodford Green’s undoing as the home side failed to fire.

Only Asad Ijaz (51 not out) had an answer to the Parks attack but Green were removed for 178.

Ten-man Epping Seconds were trounced by 200 runs at home to Westcliff-on-Sea Seconds as their visitors took full advantage of the numerical disadvantage.

Put into bat after losing the toss, Westcliff started as they meant to go on with Duncan Paveling smashing 105 from just 94 balls.

And that knock set the tone for an innings which saw the away side post a huge 343 for seven.

Facing a target of 344 for the win, Epping were always chasing the draw but failed to bat out the innings.

With both openers removed having made little progress, Andrew Huckle (38) and Waqas Ahmed (21) top scored.

Their efforts alone were not enough though, and Epping were out for 143.