PDQ LEAGUE

The destiny of the top-flight title is now resting firmly in Halstead's hands.

Their six-wicket Bank Holiday Monday win over lowly Abberton has lifted the Star Stile boys to the top of the table following Colchester and East Essex's defeat at Eight Ash Green.

And with just five games to play the title will be theirs provided they don't slip-up.

Halstead won the toss in their latest outing and put Abberton in to bat, taking the early wicket of opener Gallant for a duck.

But Rudlin and Ward dug in and threatened to hold the visitors up until Rose dismissed Rudlin for 27 with the score on 81.

Ward went on to make 53 before he was run-out, but an almost total collapse set in and the Abberton scorecard included six ducks, the last five wickets falling on the final score of 126 all out.

Halstead took just 19 overs to reach their target with only four wickets down, opener Cooper smashing the ball to all parts of the boundary in a brilliant knock of 78 which included eight sixes.

He and Dakin saw the innings away to a flying start before Dakin was out with 27 to his name.

Elsewhere in the top division, Harness, 55 and A Young, 53, both hit half-centuries as mid-table West Mersea 171 for seven saw off West Bergholt 104 by 67 runs.

Kelvedon remain odds on favourites to lift the second division crown despite suffering a rare 26-run defeat at the hands of Great Bentley.

Rusby hit 52 in Bentley's 167 for eight total and despite a valiant 61 from Gibbs, the home side could only muster 141 all out in reply.

In the third division, top three rivals Bocking and Galleywood have it all to do in the race to join leaders Earls Colne and Bures for promotion to division two.

But Clacton, 67 without loss, wasted no time in winning the big seaside derby, beating Eastcliff, 66 all out, by ten wickets.

Published Wednesday, September 1, 2004

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