Epping 212-a/o
Buckhurst Hill 238-5(dec)
(Division Three)

BUCKHURST Hill confirmed their promotion to Division Two with a 26-run derby win at local rivals Epping.

The visitors were asked to open the batting by the ten-man hosts at Lower Bury Lane, and led by opener Russell Beckett they made a useful-looking 238-5 from their allotted overs.

Providing the main support, were Prashant Bajpai (31), Dipal Thankey (21) and Raymond Parkinson (44).

Home skipper Shahid Majeed once again led the attack, taking three wickets.

In reply Epping did put up a good chase and were 98-0, but despite useful contributions throughout from Jason Whiting (44), Imzem Bayie (45) and Dan Majeed (48), it wasn’t enough as they came up short against the attack of Beckett (3-27) and Joe Slisz (3-43).

Reflecting on the win delighted Hill skipper Beckett said: “Despite missing several key players, I was pleased with the way the lads stuck together and those that came up from the seconds did very well on the day.

“It is a brilliant achievement to secure promotion and hopefully now we can still win the title and go up as champions.”

Epping counterpart Shahid Majeed said: “We gave it a good chase, but we never really recovered after suffering a collapse after we had started so well.”