Second XI Premier Division

Chingford Seconds showed no pity for bottom-of-the-table South Woodford Seconds as they raced to a seven-wicket win at home.

South Woodford’s fate is all but sealed. Only two wins and defeats for those directly above them will be enough to save them from the drop.

Batting first after winning the toss, the away side made an encouraging start through Saihaj Jaspal (56) and Ali Khan (20) but the bowling of Richard MacGregor (three for 66) and Neil Dial (two for 22) soon put a stop to that.

Only Omer Qureshi (28) made double figures from that point on and Christopher Stephens soon took over with the ball for Chingford, snaring a more than handy six for ten to clear out the tail.

Having declared on 146 for nine, South Woodford had no answers to the batting of Paul Shawyer (76) and James Hill (39) for Chingford. The pair laid the foundations for the home side to wrap up the win by hitting 147 for three after 20.2 overs.

Wanstead and Snaresbrook Seconds remain in pole position to secure promotion and the title after a four-wicket win at home to Colchester and East Essex Seconds.

The victory means Wanstead now have the luxury of a 36-point buffer between themselves and third-placed Brentwood, who are hunting down a promotion place.

Colchester chose to bat first after winning the toss but made a poor start and never recovered. Only opener Caspar Everett (43) held his bat for any length of time.

However, the rest of his teammates could not resist Jack Lord (four for 29) and Mohammad Ali Syed Zaidi (three for 11) and the pair tore through the away side’s line-up to reduce them to 127 all out.

Wanstead stuttered somewhat in their reply but still got home with relative ease as Waseem Qureshi (29) and Jack Lord (25) top-scored in a winning total of 128 for six.

A five-for from Farhad Uddin helped Woodford Wells Seconds to a six-wicket win over Shenfield Seconds.

The visitors batted first and thanks to Uddin (five for 66) were restricted to 201 for nine.

Connor Caplan (51) saw his half century built upon by Nicholas Sims, who made an unbeaten 78 to help push Wells to 202 for four and victory.

Second XI Division One

Loughton Seconds took a decisive step away from the relegation zone by clinching a six-wicket home win over Billericay Seconds thanks to a half-century from Umar Choudhry.

Inserted, Billericay were uninspiring with the bat and looked to be en-route to a lowly total until a flurry of middle-order runs laid on by Stewart Rutland (62) and Depal Patel (41) moved the score along to 199 for seven.

The hosts then wrapped up the win after 37.4 overs with Ashfaq Parvez (38) leading from the top of the order. Choudhry (56) got in on the act at number three with Tom Turner (39) and John Mills (35) pushing the hosts to a winning score of 203 for four.

Buckhurst Hill Seconds remain well placed in the title race going into the final two weeks of the season, even though they suffered a three-wicket loss at home to Ilford on Saturday.

Invited to bat first after losing the toss, Buckhurst were all out for an underwhelming 140, meaning they would have to bowl exceptionally to wrap up the win.

But despite taking seven Ilford wickets, the home side were unable to pull off a surprise win and the visitors eventually prevailed with a total of 141 for seven.

Fives and Heronians Seconds were beaten by two wickets at Hadleigh & Thundersley Seconds, the latest defeat in a season which can’t end soon enough for the bottom side.

All out for 161, with Oliver Lalor-Harbord top scoring on 48, Fives only had four members of their order hit double figures in a poor batting display.

And despite Kishen Patel’s return of five for 58 with the ball, the away side were sunk when Hadleigh hit back with 165 for eight after 40.3 overs.

Second XI Division Three

Woodford Green Seconds’ clash at Ardleigh Green was abandoned with just 7.3 overs of the second innings bowled.

The home side had made a good start and posted 234 for six from their 52 overs; Javaad Hussain’s two for 28 the best return with the ball for Woodford.

But having scored 29 without loss, the away side’s innings was cut short.

Oakfield Parkonians Seconds showed no mercy against ten-man Westcliff-on-Sea Seconds, cruising to an eight-wicket win.

Westcliff could only muster 119 for nine as Anujan Thiru finished with five for 20 and Dilan Patel on three for 38.

Parks then hit the required 122 with just two wickets lost.