Premier Division

Wanstead and Snaresbrook came up short in the title race despite securing a 24-run win over Colchester & East Essex on Saturday in the final round of fixtures.

That victory, coupled with top-of-the-league Chelmsford’s win over second-placed Brentwood meant Chelmsford scooped the title by a five-point margin, leaving the Overton Drive side just shy over silverware in third.

On Saturday they elected to bat first after winning the toss but were some way off their fluid best at the crease. Arfan Akram (20) was removed cheaply, leaving John Chambers (61) the mainstay at the top of the order.

He went through four partners before finally being removed after facing 133 deliveries. Kishen Velani (40) chipped in to help push Wanstead up to 215 for eight declared.

Wanstead then turned their attention to removing their hosts. Captain Joe Ellis-Grewal led by example and took seven for 70 to restrict the away side to 191 all out but although the skipper had delivered the win for this side, title celebrations were getting underway elsewhere.

Loughton have been relegated from the top flight following a 108-run defeat at home to South Woodford.

They finished second bottom and 13 points from safety in a season which saw them pick up just four league wins.

Having inserted their visitors into bat, Loughton did the hard work with the ball and built a position from which they really ought to have made a better first of taking maximum points.

Woodford were underwhelming with the bat and after losing openers Dane Watson (21) and Nick Browne (23) the middle order wilted under the growing pressure and it took 54 from Jordan Price to boost the visitors’ total to 166 all out.

Bilal Butt (four for 47) and Husnan Kazmi (three for 39) returned the best bowling figures for Loughton but they were overshadowed by South Woodford’s Harry Shirt, who snared seven for 23.

The hosts were duly dispatched for a paltry 58 all out; Shaun Gymer (13) and Daniel Gymer (11) the only batsmen to even make it to double figures is a dire batting display which somehow stretched to an agonizing 31.1 overs.

Chingford closed out the season by finishing comfortably in fifth thanks to a six-wicket win over Harold Wood.

Batting first after winning the toss, visiting Wood compiled a lowly total of 105 all out. Chingford duly licked their lips and bettered that by hitting 106 with six wickets still in the bank.

Buckhurst Hill secured their place in the top flight for the 2016 season after managing a draw at home to Ilford.

The visitors batted first after losing the toss and despite the best efforts of Mohib Shah (four for 56), were still able to post a total of 166 for eight which on another day would have surely proved to be on the light side.

However, Buckhurst Hill had real problems at the crease and lost opener Ricky Reynolds (4) with just four runs on the board.

Ian Russell (5) was just behind him and 11 for two soon became 12 for three and Alexander Maskell was out for a duck.

The innings was eventually stead by an unbeaten knock of 60 from Willem Scholtz but he was one of just three batsmen to make it to double figures and by some distance Buckhurst’s top scorer in a disastrous reply.

The tail order failed to contribute – save for Hayden Gayle’s 19 from 24 deliveries – and Hill were forced to bat for the draw, salvaging something with a total of 115 for seven.

Division One

A 49-run defeat at home to Shenfield did not prove disastrous for Woodford Wells who avoided the drop two Division Two by finishing a point and a place above Hainault & Clayhall.

Survival was secured by the narrowest of margins thanks to Hainault’s draw with Orsett.

Shenfield elected to bat first after winning the toss and put together an imposing total of 254 for four before declaring.

Wells, on the other hand, flattered to deceive with the bat en-route to a total of 205 all out. A knock of 81 from Peter McDermott was the highlight of an innings which saw the middle and lower order failed to get going.

On 121 for four following the dismissal of Rahul Patel (14), the final six wickets yielded just 84 runs as Woodford Wells came up short.

Division Two

Fives and Heronians have won the title and promotion to Division One with a six-wicket win at Harlow Town.

The visitors did not need to be at their best after a hat-trick from Ali Raza (three for 13) helped Fives dismiss this hosts for a lowly 97.

Jonny Kay (two for ten), Sarfaraz Ahmed (two for 12) and Selvam Ramasamy (two for 13) all contributed by it was Raza who stole the show.

Gamindu Kanishka provided the mainstay of the Fives’ innings, putting on an unbeaten 47 to steer the away side to a winning total of 98 for four.

Division Three

West Essex have been relegated despite picking up a 31-run win over Basildon & Pitsea, that despite the side above them, Epping, losing to Oakfield Parkonians.

West Essex did not have to be at their best with the bat and despite Wahid Mahmood’s 61 they could only make it to 152 all out.

But the bowling unit picked up the slack with Abdul Gafangaf (five for 46) removing Basildon for 121.

Oakfield Parkonians are up as runners-up to Old Southendian and Southchurch after enjoying a stunning 222-run win at home to previously relegation-threatened Epping.

Hosts Parks posted an enormous total of 302 for nine (declared) before skittling their visitors out for just 80.

Woodford Green finished fourth bottom after they lost by 24 runs at Old Southendian and Southchurch following a poor batting display.

The home side had not fared too well at the crease either but despite Mohammed Hasan’s (four for 35) best efforts, they did enough to post 153 all out. Woodford then capitulated to 129 all out.