Epping 108-a/o
West Essex 178-a/o
(Division Three)

WEST ESSEX moved to within striking distance of the top two in Division Three with a comprehensive 70-run win over Epping.

The Rolls Park outfit are now just 19 points off Billericay in second – the final promotion spot – with three games left to play.

With 60 more points up for grabs, Mark Vowles’ men have nothing to lose and have put themselves in with a shout of spoiling the promotion party.

They continued their impressive recent run of form at Epping at the weekend although things started to look bleak as they were bowled out for just 178.

Only Arfnan Shahzad (53) and Billy Shajjad (25) gave the home bowlers something to think about.

Pronob Roy was the chief destroyer against his former club, taking an excellent five-wicket haul, while captain Shahid Majeed found three of his own to give his batsmen the best chance of a successful chase.

However, West Essex rallied and their bowlers got their batsmen out of jail with a stirling performance.

The ever reliable Irfan Riaz once again led the way with a four-wicket haul, while veteran Zaheer Nazir picked off another three victims to add to his own tally for the season.

Roy did his best to help his batsmen out, hitting 39 runs to keep his side in the game, but with only Nasser Iqbal for company, Epping capitulated for just 108.

Delighted West Essex skipper Vowles said: “The boys showed great character to bounce back from last week’s defeat against Buckhurst Hill.

“We are still in their fighting, but we showed we are up for it because Epping were never going to make it easy for us and it was an excellent win.”