Second XI Premier Division

Ishmael Dar made 80 to inspire Wanstead and Snaresbrook Seconds to a 49-run win at Woodford Wells Seconds which keeps them on-track for promotion.

Second to Brentwood by three points, Wanstead made an encouraging start via Dar leading the way with 80 from the top of the order.

A spate of solid knocks from the middle order helped boost the away side’s total with Naail Dar (44), Nikunj Velani (39), Jahansher Akbar (40) and Mahesh Velani (37) contributing to a strong total of 298 for eight.

Wells opener Tomas Corbyn put on a ton in reply before he was finally removed by James Fitzgerald (2-26). The rest of the hosts’ order failed to fire though, and knocks of 30 and 40 from James Lever and Connor Caplan respectively were as good as it got.

Jack Lord snared 4-48 and Wells were removed for 249 after 42.5 overs.

Even a century from Michael Browne could not inspire South Woodford Seconds to victory over Southend-on-Sea & EMT Seconds, instead going down by seven wickets away from home.

Put into bat after losing the toss, South Woodford looked to have laid the foundations for a big score as Browne nailed 16 fours on his way to a total of 107 from just 123 deliveries.

But his lead was not followed by the rest of the order and although Joe Mariani made a quick-fire 30 from 25 balls, the away side could only muster 239 for eight; Browne scoring almost half the runs.

But Southend had a centurion of their own in James Holmwood (100 not out) and half-centuries either side of the opener were enough to seal the points with a total of 241 for three.

Chingford Seconds look to be drifting towards an unremarkable end of season, even after a 37-run home triumph over Colchester and East Essex Seconds.

Jay Edmonds led from the front for Chingford after winning the toss and posted 52 from as many balls. His lead was followed by Joe Samuel (35) and Malik Kashif Jamal (59 not out); the duo helping the hosts reach 215 before being removed.

And the effective bowling of Matthew Smith (3-22) and Mustafa Chawla (3-40) carried Chingford to victory by removing visitors Colchester for just 178 after 36 overs.

Second XI Division One

Loughton Seconds picked up an invaluable win in their battle against relegation, overcoming Hadleigh and Thundersley Seconds by five wickets on the road.

The hosts won the toss and decided to bat, putting up a below-par 201 for nine thanks to the bowling of Lewis Scott (3-49).

Fahad Anwar (48) and John Mills (76 not out) then combined to great effect for the away side to put on the runs needed to reach 202 for five after 44 overs.

Buckhurst Hill Seconds’ promotion hopes were dealt a blow as they fell to a 36-run home defeat against Orsett Seconds.

The loss leaves Hill third in the table and eight points behind Hutton Seconds.

Visitors Orsett were removed for just 218 after 44 overs.

Adam Marnock returned the best bowling figures for the hosts, taking 4-25 from his nine-over spell, whilst Daniel Golding chipped in by snaring two.

Having laid the foundations to chase down the Orsett total, Buckhurst faltered with the bat and ultimately came up short.

Ricky Reynolds opened with 44 but alongside him, Hermes Michael Solomonides made just 12 and that score set the tone for the rest of the innings.

Hill failed to recover from the loss of Reynolds and although four more batsmen made double figures, they contributed a mere 59 runs between them and all out for 182.

Hapless Fives and Heronians Seconds were beaten comfortably by eight-wickets at home to Hutton Seconds.

Hugo Blogg (33) made a respectable start for Fives but those beneath him failed to build on that knock and only Hamad Baber (25) came close to matching that total in a disappointing 143 all out.

In reply Hutton lost two batsmen on their way to 146 for two after 22 overs, marching to a routine win which leaves Fives propping up the rest of the division.

Second XI Division Two

West Essex Seconds picked up a two-wicket win at Old Southendian and Southchurch Seconds, chasing down 273 for eight to get home with two wickets to spare.

Second XI Division Three

Epping Seconds could not capitalise on Walthamstow Seconds’ profligacy with the ball and went down by five wickets on the road.

Walthamstow gave up an incredible 68 extras in Epping’s total of 174 for nine, more than twice the amount scored by top run-scorer Waqar Yusuf (30).

That left the home side with the relatively simple task of cantering to the necessary 176 for five, though Epping’s Shrikant Shetty still clinched two for 44.

Woodford Green Seconds lost by 43 runs at home to Westcliff-on-Sea Seconds, a result which does little for their prospects of staying up.

Second bottom and in the relegation zone by 26 points, Green were set 184 to win but could only make it to 140 all out.

Oakfield Parkonians Seconds were beaten by two wickets at Old Brentwoods Seconds despite fine late hitting from the tail.

The visitors’ total looked likely to come up on the short side until Sarankan Skandamoorthy (73) and Sifth Ali (54) combined to nudge their score up to 241 for nine.

But that was not enough to seal the 20 points and the home side picked up the win by posting 245 for eight in reply, despite Aman Ali’s return of 3-48.