Wanstead and Snaresbrook Seconds remain top of the division after a three-wicket win over Brentwood Seconds

Wanstead and Snaresbrook Seconds remain top of the division after a three-wicket win over Brentwood Seconds was secured thanks to Jack Lord’s knock of 48 from 49 balls.

Visitors Brentwood won the toss and elected to bat first but were soon a wicket down as Ben Sach (8) was lost with just 11 runs on the board.

But the away side steadied the ship before a flurry of wickets saw Brentwood quickly reduced to 76 for four.

Nabeel Aziz (three for 43) returned the best figures for Wanstead, who restricted their visitors to 188 for nine.

The Wanstead reply was less than convincing though, and after Ishmael Dar (1) and Jahansher Akbar (10) failed to ignite the top of the order, it fell to Aziz (36) and Lord (48) to carry the home side up to 189 for seven to seal the points.

South Woodford Seconds went down to ten-man Shenfield Seconds in a disappointing 72-run loss.

Fielding first, South Woodford could not prevent the away side building a healthy total of 265 for eight, which centred almost exclusively around the contributions of Martin Allen (106) and William Appleton (80) – despite Saihaj Jaspal’s (four for 33) return with the ball.

Woodford were underwhelming with the bat as they got their reply underway and lost both openers cheaply.

Jaspal (32) and William Hutchins (28) offered some resilience further down the order with the bat but it was too little too late and the home side were out for just 193.

Chingford Seconds fell to a comfortable 74-run defeat at Upminster Seconds but are safely in the middle of the pack.

Batting first, Upminster lost Steve Wright (3) early on but after the first wicket fell to Mustafa Chawla (one for 40) with just 20 runs on the board, Chingford failed to remove a second until their hosts had made 160.

Chasing Upminster’s total of 286 for five, Chingford made an encouraging enough start with the bat as Zishan Rehman (46), Paul Shawyer (21) and Joe Samuel (64) all got starts.

But from there the runs dried up and although Harry Samuel (21) and Malik Kashif Jamal (24) did chip in, they were all out for 212.

Woodford Wells Seconds’ hopes of an unlikely push for promotion are fading fast and results like Saturday’s ten-wicket humbling at Chelmsford Seconds will not help their prospects.

All out for a miserable 84 after just 25.3 over, Woodford Wells boasted just two batsmen who made it to double figures. Matthew Nobes (15) and Joe Hall (26 not out) were the only players who hung around for any length of time in a woeful innings.

Hosts Chelmsford then eased to the points without losing anyone, hitting the required tally of 85 after 13.5 overs.

Second XI Division One

Buckhurst Hill Seconds eked out a 15-run win at Billericay Seconds with Atul Sharma’s five-fer wrapping up the points for the away side.

Batting first, after winning the toss, Buckhurst made a stuttering start.

Prashant Chand-Bajpal (47) was the one constant as wickets fell at an alarming rate.

Sharma (69) top-scored for the away side but his contribution was not matched by those beneath him in the order.

Anai Patel (28 not out) and Daniel Isaacs (18 not out) put up resilient knocks at the tail, allowing Buckhurst Hill to close on 230 for eight.

Sharma (five for 23) then stole the show with the ball, tearing through the Billericay line-up to remove the home side for 215 to secure 20 points.

Loughton Seconds were comfortably beaten by 71 runs at home to Hornchurch Seconds.

The visitors put on 288 for eight after winning the toss and Loughton could only make it to a disappointing 217 before they were bowled out after 42 overs.

Defeat leaves Loughton third bottom and just 20 points above the relegation zone.

Second XI Division Two

West Essex Seconds clinched a four-wicket win at home to Belhus Seconds which leaves them in the middle of the pack with little play for.

Sixty-two points off of the promotion places but 63 above the relegation, West Essex removed Belhus for just 118 before reaching 119 with four wickets in hand in their reply.

Second XI Division Three

Woodford Green Seconds cruised to a morale-boosting seven-wicket win at Epping Seconds which boosts their survival prospects.

Currently occupying the second relegation berth, Woodford moved to within 26 points of safety.

Put into bat first, Epping made 217 before they were removed in the 41st over.

Sandeep Shetty (54) top-scored from four but their total looked on the light side.

Woodford Green then breezed to victory, losing just three wickets en route to a total of 218.

Oakfield Parkonians Seconds swatted aside Benfleet Seconds to pick up an eight-wicket home win which served to strengthen their position in second.

Sixty points ahead of Westcliff-On-Sea in third, Parks chased down 144 without breaking sweat, getting home inside 14 overs on a total of 147 for two.