Old Boys captain Chris Bunce blamed an early bowling lapse for thi defeat away to Harold Wood.

Alan Lucas (53) turned in a fine batting performance, while Robert Dobson (25) and Tim Dennis (37) aided theh cause as Old Southendian reached 200-9 after 52 overs.

But the target proved insufficient as S Singh (74) anchored the hosts' reply, which reached the target with 203-7.

"We bowled pretty poorly in the first hour, which allowed them to get to 105 off 19 overs," said Bunce.

"But after a pep talk we picked it up and got a few wickets, with Ben Jefferies taking 4-40."

Published Monday August 2, 2004

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