Wanstead and Snaresbrook Thirds moved closer to the promotion mix-up after securing a five-wicket win at league leaders Woodford Wells Thirds

Wanstead and Snaresbrook Thirds moved closer to the promotion mix-up after securing a five-wicket win at league leaders Woodford Wells Thirds.

Currently third, but just eight points shy of a promotion spot, Wanstead delivered a real statement by toppling the divisional leaders.

Batting first, Woodford Wells looked well set after opener Rahul Patel put on a huge 145. He was eventually dismissed by Sahil Prabhakar, whose two wickets came at a cost of 95 runs.

Runs continued to flow throughout the order with Thomas Styles (38), Andrew Heyes (26 not out) and Iain Wilson (25) all contributing to an imposing total of 323 for seven (declared).

But Wanstead boasted a centurion in their own ranks and it was the union of Aryan Gupta (106) and Abhay Bygott (88) which sealed the win.

Jayden Rising (43) and Karan Singh (58) also chipped in with good knocks to guide Wanstead to 327 with five wickets in hand.

Sulosan Thiru hit 83 for Buckhurst Hill Thirds but they were left frustrated after being held to a draw at Hutton.

Visitors Hill won the toss and elected to make first use of the wicket. That decision appeared shrewd when Ash Mohammed (69) and David Roberts (30) made hay early on.

Thiru then came to the crease at number three and added 83 to the total before Joe Aylott (44 not out) helped nudge Buckhurst up to 278 for eight.

Three wickets from Qaiser Khan (three for 36) in reply set the cat among the pigeons and soon Hutton were in trouble on 30 for two. That pattern followed and the home side were six down by the time they reached 100.

Aniket Patel (two for 28) helped keep the pressure on but Hutton somehow held out for the final wicket to close on 207 and take a share of the spoils.

Third XI Division One

Loughton Thirds are in the promotion mix-up after they picked up a three-wicket win at Ilford thanks to Fahad Anwar's ton.

Having lost the toss, Ilford made a good start on the track and 99 not out from Rajat Rasal was built upon by Nikhil Parmar (69) to give the hosts a total of 212 for five.

Loughton had a trick up their sleeve in reply, though, as Anwar hit an unbeaten 103 to guide the away side to a victorious total of 213 with three wickets in hand.

Contributions further down the order were few and far between but Alex Nicholls (34) and Mansoor Ahmad (26) got in on the act to seal the win.

Wanstead and Snaresbrook Fourths look well-placed to secure a third promotion for the club this season after drawing at home to South Woodford Thirds.

Despite picking up just seven points, Wanstead will have been glad to escape from the contest with something, with South Woodford their nearest challenger – 33 points adrift in second position.

Ali Khan (110) set the tone for South Woodford from the top of the order but his lead was not followed. Farhan Salahudeen (36), Mehul Parmar (40) and Jonty Bush (35 not out) all helped nudge the visitors up to 255 for nine (declared).

Wanstead simply could not match their guests in reply and after losing Toqeer Ahmad (25) and Steven Ramdial (30) with underwhelming scores on the board, the hosts collapsed and were eventually grateful to hold on for 175 for nine to secure something from the tussle.

Third XI Division Two

Fives and Heronians Thirds are teetering just above the relegation zone and results like this will not help after they were comfortably beaten by nine wickets at home to Hornchurch Fourths.

Inserted, Fives were all out for a below-par 152 and it took visitors Hornchurch 28.3 overs to chase down that score, reaching 157 with just one wicket lost.

Third XI Division Three

Paul Griffiths' five-four sealed a 104-run win for West Essex Fourths at home to Loughton Fourths, who remain in the relegation zone.

West Essex lost both openers cheaply, but there was cause for optimism as the rest of the top and middle order all got starts, the pick of which were Ollie Carter (36) and Anil Clarke (30).

But the tail failed to wag and the hosts were removed for 214 with Mohammed Ali (three for 45) the protagonist with the ball.

However, that total proved plenty as Loughton spectacularly failed to get going in reply.

Only Ewan Risby (40) and Andy Watson (32) found their rhythm and the bowling of Griffiths (five for 19) and Riz Akbar (three for 36) had the visitors out for just 110.

Sam Davies made a half-century to ensure Woodford Green Thirds trounced Hutton Fourths by 102 runs.

Davies (54) saw his score added to by the middle order as Green put up 221 all out.

It then fell to Davies to snare three for 22, removing Hutton for 119.

Fourth XI Premier Division

Buckhurst Hill Fourths enjoyed an eight-wicket canter to victory against Horndon On the Hill Thirds to maintain their interest in the promotion shake-up.

Currently tucked in behind second-placed Harlow by 41 points, Buckhurst are in prime position to pounce should either of the sides above them slip up.

And that is exactly what they did against Horndon, first bowling out their visitors for a miserable 86. John Palmer (five for 39) and Joseph Oxlade (five for 36) shared the wickets equally in a ruthless spell of bowling which saw the away side all out after just 21 overs.

Hill then lost just two wickets en-route to a winning total of 88. Aatish Parmar (25 not out) and Deep Chauhan (35 not out) were the men to supply the winning runs after 24.2 overs.

Bottom-of-the-league Chingford Fourths are sinking without trace and fell to their latest defeat on Saturday, going down by eight wickets at home to Belhus Thirds.

Chingford were inserted after losing the toss and made an inauspicious start, losing openers Jamil Akhtar (0) and Michael Blake (10) for lowly scores.

Nigel Errington hit 53 – including eight boundaries – to help boost Chingford's score but they remained in real trouble before Howard Nicholson (43) got in on the act too.

All out for a disappointing 159, it was always going to take an impressive bowling effort for Chingford to secure the points and they could not come up with the necessary performance in the field.

Only Lewis Dixon (one for 19) and Paul Crego (one for 31) made breakthroughs as Belhus got home with 160 for two.

Fourth XI Division One

Loughton Fifths condemned winless Fives and Heronians Fourths to yet another defeat as they cruised to a nine-wicket success at home.

Invited to bat first Fives never got going despite Jon Thurston hitting 37 from 59 balls. Each of the next three batsmen went for ducks and that statistic told its own tale of woe as the visitors were reduced to 117 all out.

Kevin Townsend's 36 was the only other ray of light in a depressing innings which left Fives facing an upward struggle with the ball.

Peter Nicholls (27), Jeevan Nijar (34 not out) and Tony Greywal (49 not out) then combined to lay on the runs required for victory, steering Loughton to 120 for the loss of just one after 12.4 overs.