Leaders Wanstead slip to shock defeat

The visitors won the toss and wisely elected to put their hosts in, setting about their task to skittle Wanstead for a disappointing 166.

Anthony Hill was the pick of the bowling attack with four for 27, while Sean Eaton took three at the expense of 52 runs.

Wanstead refused to roll over though and although they ultimately lost out, they did manage to take eight wickets as Green reached their target in the 41st over.

Thomas Oakley (64) starred with the bat but Wanstead’s disappointing innings cost them.

South Woodford claimed a draw at Hainault & Clayhill in a day that was all about the batsmen.

The hosts chose to bat and would have felt they made the right decision when Irfan Shah (60), Mousshin Ismail (76) and Imran Qadir (99) set them well on their way to a score of 299 for eight declared.

James Malin finished with three for 50, Nick Browne took three for 58 and Matthew Quinn two for 58.

Undaunted by the tall order though, the visitors hit back in fine style to claim the draw, led by a fine knock of 106 from opener Browne.

The rest of the runs went to Asher Gilani (67), Anand Patel (56 not out) and Max Shirt (nine not out), as Woodford reached 255 for the loss of just two wickets in their 57 overs to claim what seemed an unlikely draw in the mid-table clash.

Umad Sultan was the only home bowler to take a wicket, finishing on one for 45.

Rock-bottom Loughton fell to a crushing seven-wicket defeat at Ilford.

Having been put in by their hosts, Loughton made a strong start with opening pair Faisal Shah and Muhammad Anwar posting 49 and 57 respectively.

However, this was as good as it got for the visitors, with a collection of single figure scores following to see them collapse from 115 for one to 195 all out.

Ilford made light work of the chase, losing just three wickets on the way to their target, with Nigel Jacob (97) coming agonisingly close to a century. Usman Jan took two for 53, while Rizwan Sadiq claimed one for 12 but it was not enough as Loughton lost out.

Woodford Wells fell to a disappointing 57-run defeat at home to fellow strugglers Chelmsford.

Wells won the toss and put their visitors in and managed to restrict most of them to low scores.

Chris Prowting and Robert Hayto however both put on decent displays, reaching 49 and 43 respectively as Chelmsford were out for 203.

Rory Ellison did most of the damage for Wells, taking four for 33, ably assisted by Maruf Chowdhury (three for 39) and Rehan Iqbal (two for 16).

Despite a knock of 66 from opener Chowdhury, Wells were unable to build a decent score, struggling in their chase to reach just 146 before they were dismissed.

Division One leaders Buckhurst Hill enjoyed a seven-wicket victory when they visited Hornchurch.

Putting their hosts in, Hill made a fine start to the match, reducing Hornchurch to 133 all out.

Mike Peacock was the pick of the bowlers, claiming six wickets for the loss of 41 runs, while Carlos Remy took two for 21, with Rob Petchey and Gordon Whorlow both taking a wicket apiece.

Whorlow’s unbeaten 42 proved a pivotal part of the Hill chase, while fellow opener Russell Beckett posted 43 before he was bowled by Danny Cocklin (two for 19).

Raymond Parkinson scored 21 as Hill reached their target in the 39th over.

Strugglers Chingford claimed an important victory when they hosted Fives & Heronians.

Opting to bat first, the hosts made a faltering start when Kulbir Gill was caught for ten, but scores from Billy Rhone (30), Matthew O’Sullivan (47) and 90 from Shahbaz Butt saw them post 220 for five before declaring after 52 overs.

The Fives bowlers struggled to make an impact on their hosts, with Ryan Cunningham taking the best figures of three for 85.

Their reply started well with Gary Edwards reaching 23, Terry Ballard posting 51 and Edward Buxton scoring 37 but it was all downhill from there.

A pair of ducks and a collection of single figure scores saw the visitors all out for 155.

West Essex recorded an 89-run success over Epping in Division Three.

Epping might now regret their decision to bowl, as the home team managed to post 275 before declaring for the loss of seven wickets.

Irfan Riaz (63) and Dan Footman (58 not out) top-scored while Simon Oliver (two for 46) was the pick of the bowlers.

In reply, the visitors were unable able to make an impression, posting just 186 as they continue to struggle.

Credit should go to tail-ender Ben Marks however, who posted a determined 75 to give Epping hope before they were beaten.

Ongar were unable to turnaround their miserable season when they fell to a nine wicket defeat at Belhus.

After being put in by their hosts, Ongar struggled from the off, posting a meagre 41 runs before they were skittled after just 23 overs.

The visitors fared little better with the ball, taking just one wicket as the hosts swept home in the seventh over.

There was a narrow defeat for Woodford Green when they welcomed Old Brentwoods, losing out by one wicket.

Green were put in by their hosts and never recovered from the loss of Sean Martin, who was caught for a duck with three runs on the board.

Joe Hawkes (43), Aamir Latif (32) and Hamaad Sayyed (30) were the only Green batsmen to post double figures, as the home side were reduced to 145 all out.

In reply, Brentwoods made a poor start but an unbeaten knock of 48 from Saqid Ali and tail-ender Shabbir Ahmed’s 27 not out saw them scrape over the line for victory.

Old Parkonians scored their second draw of the season when they visited Billericay.

Despite early ducks for Hermes Solomonides and Glenn Sasikaren, Parkonians recovered to post 275 for seven declared.

The recovery was led in no small part by Haris Khan’s knock of 127, while Rushan Pandya posted 59.

Billericay’s reply though was one of stubborn resistance, batting out their 45 overs for the loss of just five wickets as they reached 214.