CHINGFORD and South Woodford committed batting suicide at the weekend, but it was the latter that was able to labour over the finish line for a vital win that keeps alive their title bid.
The pair, operating at opposite ends of the Shepherd Neame Division One table after contrasting first halves of the season, came head-to-head on Saturday in a crunch clash, for altogether different reasons.
Chingford are embroiled in a relegation scrap, while South Woodford are sitting handsomely in the second of the two promotion spots.
The game went with the form book in the first innings, Chingford struggling to put together any sort of partnership, as Garry Neicho (5-55) and Harry Shirt (4-64) ran riot, restricting the away side to just 129.
However, it was all change after lunch, with the visitors taking the game to their Highfield Road hosts. Ben MacGregor and Shaun McMurray took three wickets each as Woodford crumbled. But with nine wickets down James Malin hit the runs that saw the home team take maximum points.
Meanwhile, in the same division, Fives & Heronians produced an impressive all-round display to beat Westcliff-on-Sea by 18 runs.
Half-centuries from Gary Edwards and Irfan Ahmed – who smashed four sixes in his 45-ball innings – propelled Fives up to an imposing 277 from 47 overs.
A swashbuckling ton from opener Michael Bryant had lifted Westcliff's hopes of victory, but Jonathan Kay accounted for him and Irfan Ahmed claimed four scalps to leave the hosts shy of their target.
In the Premier Division, Wanstead were forced to settle for a draw against local rivals Ilford, as the Herons failed to take the remaining four wickets for the win.
John Chambers (89) and Adnan Akram (81) had helped the visitors compile what is now a routine big score, but Ilford never seemed in a hurry as they batted out 61 overs for the draw. The result sees Brentwood leapfrog Wanstead into top spot, having overcome local side Woodford Wells at the weekend.
Nathan Price hit 89 runs as Wells reached 250, but Brentwood never looked in danger, cruising home with five wickets to spare, despite the best efforts of Rory Ellison, who claimed two wickets.
Wells remain locked on 159 points with neighbours Loughton, who were also losers on Saturday.
Bilal Butt and James Dalton reached their fifties, but the team's total of 224 against Colchester and East Essex was not likely to be enough. And so it proved, as an unbeaten century from Joe Austin steered the visitors home. Gareth James Junior impressed with three wickets.
In Division Two, Buckhurst Hill lost ground in the fight for promotion as they clung on to a draw against Wickford. That was despite the incredible efforts of bowler Carlos Remy, who chalked up seven victims to leave his batsmen with 244 to chase.
However, it was left to him to marshal the side to a draw, finishing unbeaten at the end after eight wickets had tumbled.
Elsewhere, Walthamstow's vice-like grip on Division Three tightened with a ten-wicket demolition of Ongar.
Not one of the visiting batsmen made double figures, as David Burnage took four wickets in Ongar's meagre total of 51, leaving an easy job for Peter Hatting and Joe Mariani with the bat.
In the division's other derby, Woodford Green continued their rich vein of form by seeing off Old Parkonians by five wickets. Amrit Ryatt scooped a five-wicket haul as Old Parks were skittled out for just 156, and a steady hand from the Green batsman ensured they cantered home.
West Essex were trounced by Old Brentwoods after being blitzed for just 69, while Epping also slumped to a four-wicket defeat at the hands of Belhus.
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