Premier Division

South Woodford were denied a first win of the season against Shenfield on Saturday – leaving them rooted in the relegation zone.

Inserted into bat, hosts South Woodford started positively, with Nick Browne (52) leading the way.

The next three batsmen were removed cheaply before Kevin Sargent put on 62 not out to move the score along.

Contributions of 33 from Jake McMullen and 23 from Harry Shirt contributed to a total of 227 all out.

Suhaib Sarwar proved the thorn in the hosts’ side, taking four for 41.

Harry Shirt (two for 33) accounted for opener Simon Keen (25), before James Malin (three for 24) removed the next two Shenfield batsmen for just five runs combined.

James Burgess (35) and Harry Levy (37 not out) offered some late resistance as the visitors closed on 156 for six, in a result which does little for either side, with both marooned in the relegation zone.

Bilal Butt scored 89 and took three wickets as Loughton drew at home to Chelmsford.

Electing to bat first, the hosts recovered from a slow start to reach 289 all out.

Butt (89) top-scored and Hafiz Yawar Afzal (66) made an important contribution as the home side posted a strong total.

Ben Clifford was the most effective bowler for the visitors, taking five for 48.

Chelmsford struggled to gain much momentum with the bat, Matt Thurston top-scoring with 47.

Awais Liaqat (three for 47), Butt (three for 51) and Arslan Shah (three for 62) shared the wickets around but could not remove Chelmsford, who finished on 204 for nine.

Chingford suffered a heavy defeat at home to Harold Wood, going down by 119 runs.

The visitors refused to let a 12-minute rain delay disrupt their flow, hitting 245 for nine before declaring.

Shahbaz Khan (69) top-scored, with Richard Brabner (51) and Raihan Hussain (43) making telling contributions.

Shaun Eaton finished with three for 57 for Chingford, who had been left with an uphill battle.

The home side never got going at the crease and Ben MacGregor (27) top-scored as they slumped to a disappointing 126.

Umar Farooq accounted for four Chelmsford wickets, conceding just 12 runs.

Wanstead and Snaresbrook saw their clash with Upminster lost to the weather after less than an over.

Division One

Tom Clark claimed five wickets to help Woodford Wells to a six-wicket home win over Hutton.

Batting first, the visitors started brightly with openers Chris McNally (42) and Hanuma Vihari Gade (28) managing nine boundaries between them.

The run rate slowed though, and 44 from Connor Whetstone helped Hutton to 211 all out.

Clark (five for 26) was assisted by Rory Ellison (three for 35) in dismantling the Hutton line-up.

Wells got a number of quick runs on the board in reply as they reached 212 for four.

Peter McDermott (48) scored ten fours and Rishabh Shah (77 not out) smashed a further 13.

Dean Etchells took four wickets and scored 56 runs to condemn Buckhurst Hill to a 64-run loss at Wickford.

Batting first, Wickford recovered from the early loss of Darren Robinson (6) to reach 271 all out.

Etchells (56) was supported by Liam Rouse (63) before Chirag Desai added a late knock of 39.

Shane Cassel was the most effective Buckhurst bowler, taking three for 40.

Jamie Allen (86) top-scored for Buckhurst but 42 from Hermes Michael Solomonides aside, the visitors struggled with the ball.

Etchells’ four for 27 accounted for the tail end as Buckhurst were bowled out for 207.

Division Two

West Essex won by two wickets at Gidea and Romford in a rain-affected match.

The hosts won the toss and opted to bat first, with Sam Hewitt (66) top scoring.

Sarvesh Damle (56) and Christopher McKie (43) added important late contributions as the hosts reached 236 for eight.

The wickets were shared around, with Wahid Mahmood taking two for 21.

After losing 12 overs to rain, West Essex were set a revised target of 212, which they achieved thanks in no small part to 64 from Mahmood.

Damle took three for 21 but could not halt the visitors.

An unbeaten 125 from Paul Walter condemned Fives and Heronians to a seven-wicket defeat at Billericay in a match affected by rain.

Batting first, Gary Edwards (49) opened with intent before the next three batsmen were dismissed for just 16 runs.

Jake Poulter (62) and Ben Britton (54) picked the run rate back up to help Fives close on 258 for seven.

Stuart Hynes (61) got the Billericay reply off to a good start before Walter (125 not out) eased the hosts home with seven wickets intact.

Epping were comfortably dispatched with by Old Southendian and Southchurch, going down by eight wickets.

Batting first, Epping were removed for just 140; the visitors racing to 142 for two.

Division Three

Rana Arslan smashed 165 to help Woodford Green to a 131-run triumph over Harlow.

Arslan’s big score compensated for his teammates’ issues with the bat as the hosts finished on 285 for nine.

Rehan Khan added 44 as Dan Calver (four for 44) impressed with the ball for Harlow.

Joe Holland fell three short of a century in reply, as Harlow faltered with the bat.

Haroon Hafeez took three for ten as the visitors were bowled out for 154.

A poor display with the bat cost Oakfield Parkonians as they lost by five wickets at Benfleet.

Shane Vamadevan opened with 28 and Sachin Vera 24 but Parks soon lost their way, crumbling to 158 all out.

John Bull played his part in the visitors’ demise, removing three for 19.

Benfleet still made heavy work of securing the win, losing five wickets on route to 159.

Gareth Steed top-scored with 31 for the hosts.