Shepherd Neame Essex League

Wanstead move clear at the top of the premier division after a convincing 158 run victory over second placed Saffron Walden. Adram Akram and Min Patel both scored fifties and M. Fiaz collected five wickets as Saffron Walden's batting uncharacteristically collapsed. Devang Gandhi was the main architect of Hadleigh & Thundersley's two wicket win over Fives & Heronians following up his five wickets with a knock of sixty.

The other three fixtures ended in rather tame draws with the sides batting second well short of their targets but in no danger of defeat. In the first division Westcliff take over at the top following an eight wicket win over neighbours Leigh with Bruce Pinkerton and John Pratt scoring the bulk of the runs following Leigh's declaration on 204. Horndon on the Hill remain second despite losing by 10 runs to Woodford Wells who move off the bottom of the table.

A century from Waqar led South Woodford to victory over Chingford and keeps them very much in contention in third place. Old Southendians take over at the top of division two with James Blackmore scoring 122 as they beat West Essex by seven wickets and Ilford were only able to hang on for a draw at Upminster with nine wickets down. Buckhurst Hill's win at Ardleigh Green and Old Parkonians comprehensive victory over Hutton leaves the latter propping up the section. Walthamstow overcame Hornchurch by one wicket thanks to 57 from Andy Wilkes and move into third place. Harlow remain top of division three despite failing to beat Harold Wood who finished nine down and thirty seven runs short. Southend bowled out Basildon and duly won by nine wickets to take over second place and there were also victories for Woodford Green and Stanford le Hope, both of whom overcame targets set by Old Brentwoods and Ongar respectively.

In the second eleven section there was no change as the top four clubs all won, leaders Fives coasting to a seven wicket win over Ardleigh Green with Wanstead being only slightly more pressed as they beat South Woodford by three wickets. Gidea Park also had seven wickets in hand as they passed Loughton's 205-7 dec. Billericay were bowled out by Woodford Wells for 157 but his was enough for a fifteen run win. Ilford's powerful batting enabled them to pass Westcliff's 217-8 dec. for the loss of just one wicket. In division one all the fixtures also resulted in positive results. Colchester improved their position at the top with a seven wicket win at Brentwood as a weak Chelmsford side lost to Hainault & Clayhall and are now only just clear of Saffron Walden who bowled out Old Southendians for 116 to win by sixty two runs.

There were also victories for Walthamstow by 132 runs over Horndon and Hadleigh by nine wickets at Wickford. In division two leaders Upminster rather surprisingly lost to Leigh by 88 runs being bowled out for 97, but are still well clear of Shenfield who overcame Hornchurch by fifty one runs. Harold Wood beat Harlow by five wickets and move above Southend who had the better of a draw with Chingford. Hutton now lead division three after a six wicket win at Old Parkonians as West Essex just avoided defeat at Basildon with nine wickets down at the close. Epping recorded their first win of the season winning by four wickets at Benfleet and Buckhurst Hill beat Woodford Green in a game where over five hundred runs were scored.

Loughton had the better of the third eleven top of the table game at Gidea Park with the home side finishing with one wicket in hand and twenty five short of their target. Wanstead move level with Gidea Park after defeating West Essex by two wickets. In division one the Brentwood - Walthamstow game ended in a draw with the scores level and there were wins for Chingford and Horndon which keep them in the promotion hunt. Only Upminster failed to win as the other top clubs in division two duly collected maximum points. Westcliff defeated second placed Harlow in division three by nine wickets and there were also victories for Stanford, Woodford Green and Old Parkonians.

Billericay 227-7 7 (Nathen Batson 54) v Shenfield 278-4d 10 (Phil Bird 96 Roy Smith 63 James Weber 53)

Chelmsford 194-6 8 (Tim Jones 50*) v Hainault & Clayhall 269-8d 9 (Ashpak Ahmed 112)

Hadleigh & Thundersley 220-8 20 (Devang Gandhi 60) v Fives & Heronians 217 6 (Mel Hussain 70 Toby Shariff 56 Devang Gandhi 5-47)

Loughton 223-9d 9 V Gidea Park & Romford 182-7 9 (Richard Collard 62)

Saffron Walden 121 3 (M Fiaz 19-11-28-5) v Wanstead 279-7d 20

Fives & Heronians 181-3 18 (Jerome Mordrick 57*) v Ardleigh Green 187-7d 7 (David Lock 76)

Gidea Park & Romford 208-3 18 (Luke Baker 112* G James 68) v Loughton 205-7d 9

Ilford 218-1 18 (Kamran Sayeed 104 Imran Ahmed 87*) v Westcliff on Sea 217-8d 8 (John Waddingham 112*)

Wanstead 202-7 18 (Mark Webb 65) v South Woodford 200 11

Woodford Wells 142 5 V Billericay 157 18

Fives & Heronians 127 5 v Ardleigh Green 130-8 18 (J Barrett 22-7-49-5 Ken Moore 68)

Gidea Park & Romford 154-9 5 (Neil Blundy 6-68) v Loughton 179-8d 10 (Mark Wright 66)

Hainault & Clayhall 256-5d 11 V Billericay 179-8 5 (Amir Ashraf 101 Nick Whitehead 53* Jon Gould 62)

Wanstead 218-8 18 V West Essex 214-7d 11 Graeme Webb 55 M Vowells 6-100 ## K Spinks 93

Woodford Wells 239-9d 10 V Wickford 239-5 18 (Trevor Offord 105 Ian Letch 50 David Windyach 55)

Division 1st XI's Premier

P W D T L Abd Points
Wanstead                11 8 0 0 2 1   171
Saffron Walden          11 5 3 0 2 1   139
Shenfield               11 4 3 0 3 1   120
Gidea Park & Romford    11 3 4 0 2 2   112
Hadleigh & Thundersley  11 4 3 0 2 2   121
Loughton                11 2 4 0 2 3    96
Hainault & Clayhall     11 2 4 0 2 3    92
Fives & Heronians       11 2 1 0 6 2    76
Billericay              11 1 3 0 5 2    73
Chelmsford              11 1 3 0 6 1    66