Premier Division

Wanstead and Snaresbrook remain top of the Premier Division after a 24-run win over South Woodford on Saturday.

The hosts, who had been put into bat first, overcame a slow start which saw openers John Chambers (2) and Arfan Akram (5) dismissed cheaply.

Sixty-five from Adnan Akram rejuvinated the Wanstead innings before Jonathan Das (19) and Ishmael Dar (17) weighed in.

Mohammed Fayyaz Khan hit 30 not out late on to help the hosts to a total of 188 for nine from 60 overs.

Richard Browne took four for 50, claiming his 20th wicket of the season in the process, whilst Garry Neicho finished with two for 50.

The visitors started slowly, with openers Michael Browne (1) and Harry Neicho (10) setting the trend for much of the innings.

Michael Gymer (14) and Ashley Leat (13) followed before Jake McMullen steadied the ship with -56.

Joe Craddock added 38 late on but it was not enough as South Woodford slipped to 164 all out.

Joe Ellis-Grewal claimed four for 49 for the hosts.

Chingford trail top-of-the-table Wanstead by just three points after a 56-run win at Brentwood.

The visitors were far from convincing after being asked to bat first but 75 from Shaun Eaton proved pivotal.

Negligible contributions from the tail end saw Chingford close on 151 all out, knowing they would need to bowl well to win.

Ian Belchamber undid the away side, taking five for just 16 runs.

Second-place Chingford bowled equally well though; Ben MacGregor the pick with four for eight in nine overs.

Tom Oakley (27) made the only sizable score as Brentwood slumped to 95 all out.

Richard Abson-Bennett’s five-for condemned Loughton to a six-wicket loss at Shenfield.

The visitors started well with the bat, with Mahmad Ali Khail (33), Mohammed Hafeez (29) and Rishi Patel (28) leading the way.

Abson-Bennett soon came to the fore though, helping himself to five for just 15, tearing into Loughton’s lower order and reducing the visitors to 155 all out.

Shenfield lost just four wickets in reply, with Simon Keen (43) and Jamie Walton (25) helping the hosts to a total of 156.

The pair hit 12 boundaries between them before Suhaib Sarwar (14) and Haris Mahmood (9) completed the job.

Division One

Shane Cassel hit an unbeaten 84 but could not prevent Buckhurst Hill slipping to a two-wicket defeat at home to Southend-on-Sea EMT.

The visitors immediately set about dismantling the Buckhurst attack, reducing their hosts to 68 for five, with Ricky Reynolds (40) the one constant as the wickets tumbled.

Cassel hit four fours and as many sixes on his way to an important knock of 84, with the hosts closing on 207 for nine.

Oliver Wagstaff (three for 24) finished with the best figures for Southend.

A knock of 66 from Phil Gray at number three had the visitors going well, with Joe Robbins adding 38.

Though the run-rate slowed, Southend reached 210 with two wickets in hand to take the win.

Cassel’s impressive showing continued with the ball, taking three for 31.

Struggling Woodford Wells were thumped by nine wickets at Hainault and Clayhall, missing the opportunity to climb out of the bottom two.

Put into bat first, second-bottom Wells saw only four batsmen reach double figures, with Jonathan Gaffney (30) and Robert Leiper (23) among them.

Etinder Bopara (two for 15) took two late wickets to help remove the away side for 131.

Irfan Shah hit 71 not out in reply and was assisted by Atif Zahir (23) and Jonathan Evans (23 not out), who eased third-bottom Hainault to an important victory.

Division Two

Fives and Heronians picked up an important win in their battle against the drop, beating Westcliff-on-Sea by seven wickets.

Put into bat first, visitors Westcliff shared the runs around; Lewis Groves leading the way with 64.

Only two of the hosts’ batsmen failed to reach double figures as the home side were dismissed for 222.

Riki Laird (three for 31) and Jonny Kay (three for 32) did the bulk of the damage for Fives.

The hosts belied their league position to reach 225 with just three wickets down.

Opener Gary Edwards went for just one but 83 from Terry Ballard and 51 from Mick Perry put Fives on course for the win.

A dismal batting display saw West Essex beaten by 155 runs at home to Hornchurch.

The hosts won the toss and inserted their visitors, who reached 248 all out, with R.Smith (68) and C.Sain (51) making important contributions.

In reply, West Essex were skittled for just 93.

Division Three

Woodford Green were on the receiving end of a 211-run defeat at Stanford Le Hope, with Ross Poulton scoring a huge 137.

Eighty-five from Michael Gray and 57 from Martin Leslie helped the hosts to an almost unassailable total of 338 for five.

In reply, Woodford Green never threatened to match their hosts’ total and were removed for just 127.

Anthony Palmer’s 38 was the highlight of the innings as Poulton ripped through the Woodford line-up, taking four for 17.