Basildon & Pitsea picked up a comfortable win but skipper Paul Ayres was not happy with his side's fielding.
Tom Gamby (63) and Paul Tremain (22) put on 68 for the first wicket before Andy Scott (43) helped take Benfleet to 157-3 after 38 overs.
But then the Woodside Park team suffered a collapse as Kiran Sangani (5-35) and Mark Ayres (3-27) ripped into the innings to bowl Benfleet out for 191 off 49 overs.
The new towners saw opener Michael Gray (80no) lead the reply with support from Ross Marder (35no), Mike Blerkom (27) and Sangani (26) as Basildon reached their target with seven overs to spare.
"Our fielding still let us down and it was Kiran and Mark who dragged us back into it," said Ayres.
"We find the runs quite easy to get and once we get the fielding right who knows what will happen."
Benfleet cricket manager Ron Steed said the result was disappointing after the side's early promise in the match.
"Basildon were not in a good position in the 38th over but they stuck at it and took some good catches," Steed said.
Published Tuesday August 17, 2004
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