THE CRICKET season is drawing towards its climax and there is plenty for local clubs to play for.

In the Essex Premier League, Woodford Wells sit in second place, just two spots ahead of Wanstead in fourth.

Now, there are just two games left if Wanstead want to overhaul Wells and claim the runners-up spot in the division. They must also hope that third-placed Chelmsford slip up.

Wells strengthened their prospects with an easy win over relegation threatened Ardleigh Green.

Luke Reilly took four wickets for 38 runs as Ardleigh were wiped out for 87 runs.

Robert Marshall (29), Mark Webb (27) and Robert Leiper (24) put Wells firmly on course for a nine-wicket win.

Rivals Wanstead will be ruing their luck, after a narrow 11-run defeat to mid-table Hainault & Clayhall.

Wanstead’s middle order did not build upon opener John Chamber’s knock of 57.

Further down the table, South Woodford are now in the relegation zone, after going down to a two-wicket defeat to Upminster.

A 78-run last stand by Upminister’s tail end undid Woodford.

It was painful for visitors Woodford, after Nick Browne had hit a superb 108, as Woodford made 250-9.

In the field, Garry Neicho took three wickets for 29 runs, but it was not enough.

Meanwhile, Loughton now sit at the summit of Division One.

Loughts cruised to a six-wicket win over rock-bottom Basildon & Pitsea.

They bowled out Basildon for 100 in 31 overs.

Rizwan Qureshi was the pick of the bowlers with 4-17. Michael Gymer impressed too, with 3-25.

Loughton’s response got off to a shaky start, as openers Richie Bann went for a duck, and Faisal Shah reached eight.

But Usman Jan at number four stepped up and steered a course to victory with a knock of 49.

Chingford lie just outside the promotion spots in fourth place, after they beat relegation-threatened Wickford by 92 runs.

Chingford’s bowlers restricted Wickford to 128. Ryan Harris ended with figures of 5-37, while Ben Macgregor took four wickets.

Earlier, Chingford had declared on 200.

Greg Hales, with 46, was top scorer.

Elsewhere, midtable Fives & Heronians were taken apart by second-place Ilford.

Ilford surpassed Fives’ 225 target in 40.3 overs.

Meanwhile in Division Two, Walthamstow and Buckhurst Hill are sinking towards relegation.

They occupy the bottom two spots.

Stow were easily beaten by table-toppers Hadleigh & Thundersley.

They lost by six wickets, as Hadleigh lost just four wickets on their way to Stow’s 167 all out.

Buckhurst Hill were demolished with a five-wicket haul by one Hadleigh bowler.

Shazad Dar was top scorer with 39 as Hill reached 123 all out.

In Division Three, Ongar sit second bottom, but can be buoyed by their draw against mid-table Belhus.

Fouth-placed West Essex lost to close rivals Old Brentwoods,Epping were dragged into the mire by a 45-run defeat to Old Parkonians.

Woodford Green are just ouside the drop spots after their one-wicket win over Southend-on-Sea.