Essex League Round-up: Wanstead & Snaresbrook lose Premier Division lead

An unusually disappointing innings for Wanstead saw Billericay take full advantage and they coasted home in the end, securing a five wicket win over the reigning National Cup champions.

That defeat, coupled with Hornchurch’s triumph, saw the latter open up a two point advantage over Wanstead at the top of the table.

Wanstead struggled with the bat, with Zain Shahzad (23) the only person to break the 20 point mark, while Robin Das as well as Kishen Velani only reached 16.

Billericay’s bowlers seized on Wanstead’s inconsistency, with Adam Marchant taking 3-41, while Robert Rayner (2-24) and Ross Poulton (2-23) also played an influential role, as the home side limited their opponents to 126.

Billericay were in full control at this point and their reply got off to the perfect start when opener Nick Van Lint hit 27.

Early dismissals for Darren Ironside and Aaron Curtis didn’t stop Billericay’s charge either, with David Houghton notching 17 and Lee Knight adding 33 not out, as the home side beat the target set with five wickets to spare.

That result allowed Chingford to close the gap on second place Wanstead after they beat Southend-on-Sea by 45 runs.

Captain Alfie Taylor (30) got Chingford’s innings off to a promising start, but Ben MacGregor and Alexander Maskell were both dismissed in quick succession for ducks.

Peter McDermott’s half century (63) helped get the visitors’ innings back on track and late efforts from both Josh Kelly (46) as well as Liam Lannen (40) helped propel Chingford to 264.

Southend’s response suffered an early blow when McDermott bowled opener Lewis Wright for 36.

Wright lacked support from some of his team-mates, as Ed Smith and Alexander Shortt both enjoyed success with the ball, removing Charlie Lockhart (18) as well as Carl Lees (19).

Matthew Wagstaff (31) and Mohammed Rizvi (40) threatened to get Southend’s innings back on track but following their dismissals, Taylor took two late wickets to secure Chingford the victory.

Ilford didn’t enjoy such good fortunes, as they agonisingly fell just four runs short away to Shenfield.

Jack Potticary and Arshad Ali’s opening partnership of 60 got Shenfield off to a positive start, with the latter going on to reach 40 before he was caught by Theeban Tavarasa.

Captain Jack Kliber then built on the duo’s opening partnership by adding 23 before Shenfield’s innings stuttered, with Alan Jones, James Salisbury and Tom Ballington all exiting the crease in quick succession.

After Ollie Ekers’ 28, Aaron Beard then stepped up to the plate, notching 70 runs from just 60 balls, which included 11 boundaries, to help Shenfield reach 240.

In reply, Ilford’s Mohammad Ahktar was the star of the show, as he hit an excellent century of 111.

But he lacked support from his team mates and that would ultimately come back to haunt Ilford at the end of the game.

Following Haaris Ayub’s 32, Shane Snater (30) and Mohammed Malik (22) threatened to set up a nervy finish.

But time wasn’t on Ilford’s side, as they could only post 236-9 inside their allotted 50 overs, meaning they agonisingly fell four runs short from notching a crucial victory.

In Division One, Buckhurst Hill’s winning streak continued, as they made it five successive victories thanks to a comfortable win over fourth place Belhus.

It proved to be the Hendro Puchert show if truth be told, as the Buckhurst Hill opener could not be removed, as he hit an unbeaten 145 not out from just 147 balls to set the home side well on their way to victory.

While none of Puchert’s team mates could match his ruthless showing, skipper Prashant Chand-Bajpai did manage to post 36, while Russell Beckett hit a quick fire 29 late on to help Buckhurst Hill reach 261-5 inside 50 overs.

The home side’s commanding position was further cemented when Mark Quant bowled Belhus opener Matt Doran for ten.

A 98 run partnership between Joe Joyce (48) and Ryan Wells, who would go on to add a half century (68), then helped to inspire a Belhus comeback.

But the duo lacked support from the rest of their team, with Michael Fogg (27) and Connor Day (28) the only remaining batsmen to post double figures.

Rohan Bhome (3-38) was the pick of the bowlers for Buckhurst Hill, while Usman Sahar (2-32) and Irfan Sahar (2-44) also enjoyed good days out on the field.

Meanwhile Woodford Wells remain adrift at the foot of the table after they were beaten by Harold Wood by 46 runs.

Mdaminul Isalm Shihan was the pick of the bunch for Harold Wood as he notched a quick fire 67 from 43 balls and he was joined by Craig Perrin (58) and Shahbaz Khan (63) in breaking the half-century mark as the visitors racked up 272-9.

It looked set to be a familiar story for Woodford when Andrew Gibbon was removed early on for just four.

Joe Johnson would enjoy better fortunes after he hit 65 and his score was further supplemented by Hywel Jones (20), Nabel Shaikh (27) as well as Rehan Iqbal (20) to ensure that Woodford wouldn’t go down without a fight.

George Ellis hit a late 27 but in the end it wasn’t enough, as Harold Wood’s Harry Thompson took two late wickets to limit Woodford Wells to 226.

In Division Two, Loughton made it back-to-back wins after they thrashed Oakfield Parkonians by six wickets.

Loughton’s Abdul Nasir (3-30), Vishak Surendra (3-22) and Bilal Butt (2-35) all enjoyed good fortunes with the ball as the trio restricted the home side to 146 despite Selvam Ramasamy’s late 36.

Despite losing Bilaal Anwar early on, Loughton’s response was convincing with Umar Choudhry’s half century of 65 being supplemented by Surendra’s 22, as they convincingly beat the target set with six wickets to spare.

Elsewhere captain Jake Poulter played a starring role for Fives and Heronians who continued their recent good form by comprehensively beating Harlow by 185 runs. Poulter starred for the home side by smashing an unbeaten 134, a figure which proved to be influential in helping Fives post 325-8.

But with a tough score to beat, Harlow got off to the worst possible start when Luke Monger, Mitchell Howarde and Soulat Ali were all dismissed by Poulter for single figures early on.

Lee Jessey also existed the crease soon after and Harlow never really recovered, as they were bowled out for 140.

A consistent innings for South Woodford allowed them to bounce back from last week’s defeat against Oakfield Parkonians in style, as they chased down Leigh on Sea’s target with six wickets to spare.

Jamal Richards took 4-50, while Jake Mcmullen added 2-25 to help Woodford restrict Leigh on Sea to 207, despite Jac Sexton (43) and Harry Slack’s (41) best efforts.

Woodford’s reply started promisingly thanks to a 56 run partnership between Henry Blackwell (35) and Joe Craddock (35).

Harry Neicho then hit 58 before late scores from Michael Browne (23) and Saihaj Jaspal (30) helped to seal a comprehensive victory.

Woodford Green remain within touching distance of second place Benfleet in Division Three, after thrashing Basildon & Pitsea after excellent displays from Usman Azhar and Anshul Sharma.

Sean Martin’s 66 was supported by efforts from Matthew Field (30) and Amrit Ryatt (31) as Woodford posted 233.

But neither Azhar (6-33) nor Sharma (4-27) were in any mood to hang around as a stunning display from the Woodford bowlers saw them dismiss Basildon & Pitsea for just 62 after 12.3 overs.

Walthamstow picked up their second win in a row as Richard Baughen and Asif Bala’s performances saw them overcome Westcliff-on-Sea.

After Westcliff had posted a score of 246, Walthamstow’s reply was convincing, with Baughen hitting an opening score of 83 not out.

Ben Smith then hit 25 before Bala stepped up and scored a decisive 86 to help Walthamstow beat the target set with six wickets remaining.

Epping, meanwhile, were on the end of a three wicket defeat to Stanford Le Hope despite Sachin Bawa’s unbeaten century (135), while West Essex remain adrift at the bottom of the table after they were condemned to an eight wicket loss at the hands of league leaders Old Brentwoods.