Second XI Premier Division

Wanstead and Snaresbrook Seconds, who confirmed second place in the table the previous week, ended their campaign with a 43-run defeat against Colchester and East Essex on Saturday.

After winning the toss, Colchester decided to bat. Openers Kieran Dale and Gleen Wheeler suffered contrasting fortunes.

Wheeler was dismissed for a duck after being caught by Nikunj Velani off the bowling of James Fitzgerald.

But Dale was most assured at the crease and he went on to score 63 before being bowled by Joseph Palmer.

Gareth Fisher impressed at number six with a knock of 61 as Colchester went on to declare on 200 for seven.

Palmer ended with four for 58 from his 10.2 overs while there were two wickets for Jack Lord, who ended with figures of two for 19.

With the bat, Wanstead’s reply got off to a shaky start as both Fitzgerald and Waseem Qureshi were dismissed for five.

Lord and Steven Ramdial, in at four and five, showed some resistance against the Colchester attack.

Lord ended with 34 before being caught while Ramdial struck 40 before he returned to the pavilion after being bowled by Wheeler.

A poor team display with the bat meant Wanstead were skittled for 157, Wheeler did the majority of the damage and ended with figures of four for 22.

Chingford Seconds rounded off their season with a four-wicket win against South Woodford Seconds.

South Woodford won the toss and decided to bat. They could only muster 149 from 45.5 overs however, before being dismissed. That was not enough to defend and Chingford chased down the runs with little fuss. They eased to victory with four wickets in hand.

A 71-run victory over Chelmsford Seconds on the final day of the season wasn’t enough for Buckhurst Hill Seconds to avoid relegation.

Chelmsford won the toss and decided to bowl. However, they were made to regret that decision as Buckhurst went on to post a total of 245 for six from their allotted 52 overs.

Opener Prashant Chand-Bajpai was in good touch as he scored 89 while Daniel Parkinson played good shots on his way to 69.

The Chelmsford reply reached 174 before they ran out of wickets. Restrictive bowling meant partnerships could not be built, Jack Moss top-scoring with 33 for Chelmsford.

The wickets were shared amongst the Buckhurst attack. Parkinson and Daniel Platt ended with three wickets apiece while Sam Sullivan claimed two for 27. George Hick (one for 22) and Darren Ironside (one for 35) helped secure victory.

Second XI Division One

Woodford Wells Seconds missed out on the title and had to settle for second place after losing to eventual champions Southend-on-Sea and EMT Seconds.

Woodford knew a victory would be needed to guarantee the title and they won the toss and decided to bat.

After losing opener Christopher Biggs for six, James Tuplin (59) and Robert Leiper (67) put together a strong partnership.

Tomas Corbyn’s knock of 68 at number five helped Woodford reach a final total over 248 for five from their 52 overs.

However, it was a difficult afternoon for the Wells bowlers as Southend were able to chase down the runs, and seal the title, in 48 overs.

There were good scores at the top of the order – the stand-out was a knock of 72 not out from Aaron Butcher.

With the ball, Joseph Morgan took two for 70 while there was also a wicket for Louis Poynter (one for 62). But the Wells attack couldn’t dismiss their opponents, who did enough to secure victory and clinch top spot.

Loughton finished third in the division after they were beaten by seven wickets against Harlow Seconds.

Loughton won the toss and decided to bat but a below-par batting display saw the side skittled for 149.

Only three batsmen made it past the 20 mark – Ashfaq Parves (32), Ayaz Younis (38) and Adam Vinson (37).

It wasn’t a big enough total to defend and Harlow used 51 overs to secure victory. Younis (one for 22), Andrew Bridges (one for 31) and Wajahat Bukhari (one for 37) were the only bowlers to have any joy.

Hugo Blogg ended his season in style as his century helped Fives and Heronians Seconds record a four-wicket win against Hadleigh & Thundersley.

Hadleigh won the toss and decided to bowl. It proved the wrong decision as Fives went on to post a total of 271 for six before declaring.

Fives’ total was achieved thanks to big scores from Blogg and Neil Brathwaite. Blogg achieved 102 while Brathwaite struck 97.

Michael Batt added 29 not out to put Fives into a commanding position.

Hadleigh’s response was well constructed with several batsmen posting good totals. Luke Smith’s 54 and Jack Stead’s 75 were the main contributions.

However, they finished just four runs short of Fives’ total thanks to good displays from their bowling attack.

Riki Laird was the stand-out performer with the ball as he claimed four for 28 while Adita Banerjee and Steven Doig both ended with two wickets.

James McKay and Bradley Knapman secured one wicket apiece.

Second XI Division Two

West Essex Seconds, who played with just ten men, ended the season in the relegation zone after they were beaten by 86 runs against Leigh on Sea.

Leigh batted first and posted a total of 291 all out from their 47.4 overs. Dean Waller’s impressive knock of 90 was the side’s top score.

Farhad Saleem (two for 26), Wahid Mahmood (two for 58) and Zia Anwar (two for 38) returned the best figures with the ball.

The West Essex response was brave but they ultimately fell short with their man disadvantage. Anwar top-scored with 47 while Zohair Jan added 39.

However, West Essex were skittled for 205 and were relegated.