Southend lost by four wickets after their batting gamble failed to pay off.

The seasiders struggled for runs on a wet pitch, with only Numan Khan (40) and Chris Chambers (32) prospering as Southend batted 66 overs.

The visitors claimed early victims through Shazad Zadi (2-58) and Stephen Johnston (2-29) but then the pitch started drying out. That let Epping go from 91-5 to 156-6.

"It was all down to the toss really," said skipper Wayne Spear. "If we had put them in then they would have struggled - and it would have been a complete reverse."

Published Tuesday August 24, 2004

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