THE cricket season got into full swing at the weekend and there were mixed results for the area’s top sides.

Wanstead, attempting to reclaim their Essex Premier crown after losing out to Brentwood last year, were given a stern examination by local rivals Ilford before eventually dragging themselves over the winning line by just five runs.

However, newly-promoted Woodford Wells had a baptism of fire in Essex’s top division, slumping to a 114-run defeat to the defending champions. It was a similar story for Loughton, also playing in their first season in the top flight, as they went down by five wickets to Colchester & East Essex.

Wanstead, led by Arfan Akram, a batsman who has been included in the Unicorns squad to face the country’s best county sides in the Clydesdale Bank 40 competition this season, compiled an impressive 296 from their 50 overs. Akram (36) was trumped by his younger brother, Adnan (64), while Matthew Smith also made 50.

Ilford came close but a pivotal last over from Mohammed Fayyaz Khan saw them home.

The Herons captain admitted his team are desperate to avenge last season’s second place finish. “I think, having come second last year, the lads all knew that they could give that extra five per cent,” said Akram. “Winning games which at one stage we had no right to shows how hungry we are to go one step better this time.”

Wells, meanwhile, struggled to contain Brentwood, although James Lever did take four wickets. A top order collapse meant the Monkhams Lane team were always fighting an uphill battle and, despite the tail wagging at the end, the side came up well short of their target.

Elsewhere, half-centuries from Ritchie Bann and Bilal Butt boosted Loughton to a competitive 274-8, but Colchester reached their goal with an over to spare.

In Division One, Fives & Heronians squeezed past Westcliff by five runs, Christopher White’s four wickets wrapping up the visitors’ tail. There was also a perfect start for Chingford, who were relegated from the Premier Division last season, as they overcame close rivals South Woodford by 14 runs.

Greg Hales (68) and Robert Whitfield (47) were key contributors.

In Division Two, Harlow and Buckhurst Hill got off to winning starts, while Woodford Green, Walthamstow and Epping were victorious in their Division Three curtain-raisers, although there were defeats for West Essex, Old Parkonians and Ongar.