Premier Division

Wanstead & Snaresbrook began the new season with a one-wicket victory over South Woodford on Saturday as they look to bounce back from the disappointment of missing out on the title to Chingford last season.

Put into bat first, visitors South Woodford made the worst possible start and were six for four at one stage after Harry Neicho, Bradley Copper, James Swash and Joe Craddock were all dismissed for ducks.

Richard Browne (28), batting at number six, finally got some runs on the board, with Krishan Vadher (23) and Dane Watson (31) also chipping in as the visitors were toppled for just 114.

Mehad Khan starred with the ball for Wanstead, returning figures of four for 34, including three maidens.

Perhaps guilty of being over confident as they went into bat, Wanstead were similarly sluggish and it took 42 from Saurav Prabhakar and 26 from Joe Ellis-Grewal to drag the home side to 115 for nine.

Opener Arfan Akram (18) was the only other Wanstead batsman to even reach double figures as Harry Shirt (five for 27) and Vadher (three for 10) tore into the hosts’ line-up, ultimately to no avail.

Defending champions Chingford got their title defence off to the ideal start, crushing hapless Ilford by eight wickets.

Having elected to field first, Chingford capitalised on any and every error by Ilford, with Lenny Daniels picking up six for 46 and recording ten maidens in his 18-over stint.

Last man in Theeban Tavarasa (20) top scored as one of only three Ilford batsmen to reach double figures en route to a meagre total of 93 all out.

Jack Preddey’s (10) early dismissal did not set the tone for the Chingford innings though, as Daniel Lawrence (4) and Jack Potticary (24) steered the home side to a comprehensive opening day victory.

Hamza Omar’s five-for helped Loughton sneak to a narrow 12-run win over Harold Wood in their season opener.

Inserted by their visitors, Loughton made a solid if unspectacular start, with Matthew Schubert (22) and Mahmad Ali Khail (64) putting on an opening stand of 51 before the former was removed.

Forty from Bilal Butt and 20 from Daniel Gymer moved the scoring along but the middle order faltered and Ben Sly’s 27 was the last contribution of note in a total of 234 for nine.

Burhan Mahmood was Wood’s principle threat with the ball, returning figures of six for 41.

And Wood made a strong start in reply as 13 fours and three sixes from Raihan Hussain helped the opener to 94 from 118 deliveries.

However, Omar stole the show from that point and clinched five key wickets for the home side, ripping through Wood’s top order.

Forty-two from Maruf Chowdbury was not enough for the away side, who fell just short after being removed for 222.

New-boys Buckhurst Hill were left in no uncertain terms as to the size of the task facing them after a 187-run thrashing at Brentwood.

The home side elected to bat first and soon put on a display of all their top-flight quality; Jonathan Walford hitting 100 from 120 deliveries and Aaron West making an unbeaten 116 from a mere 84 balls.

Willem Scholtz’s two for 68 were the best Buckhurst Hill bowling figures and told their own story up against a total of 302 for three.

The reply was tame and after openers Ricky Reynolds (8) and Hermes Michael Solomonides (7) were removed early on, the die was cast.

Mohib Shah (20) top scored but only delayed the inevitable as Buckhurst Hill were skittled out for just 115.

Division One

Woodford Wells were left to rue their failure to claim the final wickets as stubborn Hadleigh & Thundersley escaped with a draw.

Put into bat, Woodford scored steadily throughout their innings; William Rodgers leading the way with an unbeaten 65, supplemented by 40from opener Joe Johnson and 41 from Rishabh Shah.

Paul Tibbenham (46) got the Hadleigh reply off on the right foot but he scored slowly, needing 138 deliveries before being removed by Tom Clark.

And from there Hadleigh were unable to build any momentum, with no-one scoring more than 19 in a dogged innings of 134 for nine.

Rory Ellison took five for 28 but Woodford were ultimately left frustrated.

Division Two

Fives & Heronians were made to pay for a poor showing from the tail as they lost by 12 runs at Leigh-on-Sea.

Put into bat by their visitors, Leigh stuttered early on but were boosted by a huge knock of 115 from Dean Waller at number five.

Iain MacDonald chipped in with 38 as the home side declared on 239 for eight as they sought to bowl out Fives.

Batting at three, Gary Norris fell six short of his century but provided cause for optimism. A further 62 from Gamindu Kanishka only enhanced hope of a successful run chase but Fives could not build on that flurry of runs and were all out for 227.

Division Three

West Essex made a miserable start to life in the third tier after suffering a five-wicket home defeat by Epping.

Batting first, West Essex made an encouraging start as opener Mubashir Javed hit 28. But that knock proved the high point as Mohammed Zahour (16) and Irfan Riaz (15) were the only other batsmen to make double figures.

Manan Patel ripped through the West Essex line-up, taking six for 21 as the hosts were blown away for 87.

Asif Iqbal was trapped leg before wicket for a duck but even his early departure could not stop Epping, who reached 91 with five wickets in hand.

Patel (30 not out), Amit Ojha (27) and Amir Khan (28) were the protagonists as the away side made light work of an opening day victory.

Raghav Chopra took three from 16 to guide Oakfield Parkonians to an eight-wicket trouncing of Walthamstow.

Deepan Kandeepan made 38 from 77 balls before Chopra got stuck into the visitors’ line-up, taking three early wickets.

Jibran Azam (four for 28) was also causing havoc as Walthamstow laboured to 169 all out; Qam Farooq (28) and Mehran Khan (25) putting up a fight in the middle order.

Faisal Butt (11) and Muhammad Ali (20) were below par in Parks’ response but a big 77 from captain Azam and 46 not out from Haris Khan set the hosts on course for victory, closing on 170 for two.

Woodford Green were made to pay for a dismal batting display as they lost out by 48 runs at Benfleet.

Put into bat, Benfleet were profligate and although Rob Zammit managed 38 it took him 105 balls before he was removed. Jamie Critchell managed 27 and Charlie Huntley added 38 to the hosts’ tally as they were dismissed for 161.

And Woodford were no better, their reply collapsing after only two batsmen could muster double figures in a total of 113.