Second XI Premier Division

Mohammad Ali Syed Zaidi’s five-for inspired Wanstead and Snaresbrook Seconds to a five-wicket win over Chingford Seconds.

Inserted, Chingford made a stuttering start and were soon at 20 for three with openers Peter Shawyer (27) and Mitan Patel (2) flattering to deceive.

Syed Zaidi took charge with the ball for hosts Wanstead, helping himself to five for 25 to help skittle the visitors out for a well below-par 144.

Wanstead did not have to be at their best in reply and it was the runs of Milan Patel (37) and Nikunj Velani (32 not out) which carried the hosts to victory, reaching the required 147 with five wickets in hand.

Neil Dial returned the best bowling figures for Chingford, taking two for ten in his solitary over.

A dramatic shoot-out between Woodford Wells Seconds’ big-hitter Alex Sharp and South Woodford Seconds’ Michael Browne saw the former guide his team to a dramatic eight-run win.

Put into bat after losing the toss, Woodford Wells lost opener Christopher Briggs for a duck after he was trapped leg before wicket.

It mattered little though, as Sharp put on a mesmerising 146 to provide the backbone of the visitors’ innings.

Tomas Corbyn ran out of time in his search for a century, agonisingly finishing unbeaten on 96 as the away side made 349 for four.

But South Woodford had a big scorer of their own and batting at three, Browne bashed his way to 150 to give the home side a fighting chance of sealing victory.

Contributions further down the order by Indika Wickramaratne (43) and Tayyib Iqbal (32) moved South Woodford within sight of victory but they ran out of time on 341 for nine.

Second XI Division One

Carl Solomons hit a massive 144 to steer Buckhurst Hill Seconds to a comprehensive eight-wicket triumph at Hutton Seconds.

Hutton were put into bat after losing the toss and began in an encouraging fashion; Christopher Bolton (31) and Christopher Blake (43) making reasonable totals.

Atul Sharma then got stuck into the Hutton middle order and returned three wickets for 36 runs in 7.3 overs as the home side were removed for a good total of 255.

Ricky Reynolds had the Buckhurst Hill reply off on a good footing as he put on 62 but his total was soon dwarfed by the imperious Solomons (144 not out).

Anai Patel made 31 alongside Solomons to seal the win, Hill reaching 256 for the loss of just two wickets.

Loughton Seconds’ disappointing start to the season continued as they slipped to a six-wicket loss at Hainault and Clayhall Seconds.

Put into bat, the visitors were never able to build the momentum required for a big score, with Rohail Anwar (29) and Asim Aslam (36) top-scoring in a total of 198 all out.

The home side were ruthless in their run chase, reaching 210 for the loss of just four wickets after 32 overs. Samir Mohammed took three for 42 but was the only bowler to have any real joy.

Fives and Heronians Seconds’ wait for a first win of the campaign will stretch to a seventh week after they lost by six wickets in a rain-affected clash at home to Ilford Seconds.

Despite losing half-an-hour of play to the inclement weather, Fives still put on a good total of 227 for nine from their 45 overs.

However, Ilford required just 35.3 overs to send Fives to defeat once more, with a score of 230 achieved with only four wickets lost.

Second XI Division Two

Struggling West Essex Seconds were off the pace as they fell to a four-wicket loss at home to Harlow Town Seconds.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, West Essex could only put up an unimposing target of 128 all out.

And, unsurprisingly, Harlow had little difficulty in chasing down that score to seal the points with 130 for six.

Second XI Division Three

Yasin Mohammed and Gisli Bergmann both made big scores but were unable to steer Woodford Green Seconds to victory against Walthamstow Seconds, instead going down by two wickets away from home.

Mohammed made 77 before he was trapped leg before wicket and fellow opener Anthony Stewart (14) was also removed by the same method.

Bergmann (75) then came to the crease to boost the Green total. Nic Bruce chipped in with 35 and the away side closed on a competitive 245 for five.

Walthamstow made an unspectacular start to their innings and it was not until Qam Farooq (80) in the middle order that any home batsman made a sizeable contribution.

Mohammed (two for 31) returned the best figures with the ball but he alone was unable to stall Walthamstow, who made it to 246 for eight to claim the win with nine 44.3 overs bowled.

Fine bowling from Epping Seconds’ Shrikant Shetty and Bharat Patel was not enough to prevent defeat as Ardleigh Green Seconds snuck a one-wicket win.

Invited to bat first, Epping made a faltering start and lost Manni Bawa (1) and Sam Tetlow (8) early on, failing to recover from that perilous position.

Sandeep Shetty top-scored with an unremarkable 17 and Epping were soon dismissed for just 111.

Patel (four for 17) and Shetty (30 for three) tore into the Ardleigh Green line-up but their efforts proved in vain and the visitors just did enough to take the win, closing on 112 for nine.