SOUTHEND 234-9 declared

HARLOW 223-6

(DRAW)

Southend's hopes of an instant rise to Division Two are in the balance after a big century from either side stole the honours in a tense draw.

Australian Brad Everett's 123 was the centrepiece of Southend's declaration total.

The seasiders lost a wicket in the first over, then revelled when Everett was in, but crumbled somewhat after his departure.

For more information on the Shepherd Neame Essex League, click here Harlow, whose openers put on 90, were in the running for victory most of the way through their reply, particularly with Nilesh Odedera hitting 120.

However, Southend tightened their field placings near the end, leaving Harlow 12 runs short of victory with four wickets in hand.

Each side faced 44 overs.

It means the fourth-placed seasiders are now 37 points behind second-top Hutton and 56 adrift of Upminster.

Harlow, in third place, are five clear of Southend.

Harlow skipper Jed Hill said: "I felt we should have won.

"It was very close, and it was only towards the finish, when Southend switched their field to a defensive one, that victory was put beyond us."

Century hero - Southend's Brad Everett's 123 was one of two centuries scored in their game with Harlow

Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

Draw only hope after bat blitz

GIDEA PARK & ROMFORD 339-2

WICKFORD 242-7

(DRAW)

Fine knocks from Chris Sharp (67) and Mark Goddard (50) steered Wickford to a draw - after Gidea Park had produced one of the biggest batting blitzes of the Shepherd Neame season.

The Romford-based visitors saw one of the Premier Division's most renowned names, Andrew Hibbert, hit 156.

Awesome backing came from Scott Davis (78) and Andy Churchill's unbeaten 85 as Gidea Park declared on a 339 total that always meant victory was well beyond relegation-troubled Wickford.

The hosts, though, will take some solace in picking up six points - four fewer than Gidea Park.

However, Wickford are now 22 points behind Billericay's conquerors, second-bottom Woodford Wells.

Ominously, Wickford visit long-running Premier Division leaders Saffron Walden next weekend - before entertaining Woodford Wells the following Saturday.

Saffron Walden suffered a hiccup on Saturday when they drew with fourth-placed Wanstead and only picked up ten points.

Second-placed Fives & Heronians saw off Loughton and picked up 20 points to leave them trailing the leaders by two points.

Holmes puts Old Boys in a spin

LEIGH 200-5 declared

OLD PARKONIANS 91

(LEIGH WON)

Leigh stormed 19 points clear in Division Two after spinner Nigel Holmes sparked a breath-taking slump from Old Parkonians.

The hosts declined from 71-1 to 91 all out as Holmes, whose overall figures of 6-47 included 6-12, and Norman Puckerin (3-19) suddenly destroyed them on a particularly dry and dusty track.

Leigh, who won the toss, had earlier declared in their 51st over on a very useful 200-5.

Steve Adelain's 52 was helped along by skipper Simon Burch (stumped on 45) and Mark Sexton (34 not out).

Burch said: "On that pitch, I thought even a score of 150 would give us a fair chance of winning.

"It was always going to do something and it was a matter of waiting for our bowlers to discover the right spot.

"Once they did, the key was a mixture of good bowling, a few rash shots and holding onto every catch."

The skipper reserved special praise for a stupendous catch at gully from Simon Goggin.

"It was a full-blooded drive going past him, but he somehow managed to not only get to it, but hold on as well," Burch said.

"I was impressed with our fielding when you consider that it was a problem early in the season."

Leigh's eighth win in 12 games leaves them 44 points ahead of third-placed Old Southendian - who they visit this Saturday.

Wells give Billericay that sinking feeling

BILLERICAY 171 all out

WOODFORD WELLS 175-8

(WOODFORD WON)

A lengthy eight-wicket stand sent Bill-ericay tumbling into the bottom half of the table with their second successive defeat against bottom-two opposition.

Billericay were beaten by bottom-placed Wickford last week, but seemed poised to rescue an indifferent batting display - salvaged by Richard Swile's 62 and Steve Ash's undefeated 38 - when they reduced the hosts to 95-7.

However, Woodford Wells' bowling hero David Amato, who had taken 5-40 in 28 overs, became their batting star as well, with an unbeaten 54 that sealed a shock victory.

Billericay will rue dropping a handful of relatively easy catches - whereas the home side pulled off some excellent catches.

Billericay had lost both Essex man Danny Law and Jon Walford in the third over, as they slumped to 8-2 and 27-3.

Swile and Damien Brandy (15) put on a reviving stand of 56, but Woodford opening paceman Nassim (4-32) went on to take Billericay's first four wickets.

It was left to Ash to enable Billericay to reach some sort of defendable total.

Then Woodford were themselves reduced to 27-3, then 95-7, as only opener Rigby (35) offered real resistance until late on.

However, Amato and Hancock (21) put on 71 as they took the score to 166, then two more botched catches helped see Woodford to victory.

Law took 2-60, Walford 2-18, Danny Pryke 3-35 and Ian Pont 1-30.

Billericay, who seemed genuine top two challengers in the first half of the season, will soon face a new dilemma in their battle to rejuvenate their form.

They will be without a handful of their 20-something players for a couple of weeks when they go on holiday immediately after next Saturday's home game with Shenfield.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.