SOUTH WEALD II....................................198-9

HAVERING BLUES .........................156 all out

(South Weald won by 42 runs)

(T. Rippon League Division Four)

South Weald won an important promotion battle when they beat Havering Blues by 42 runs at Sandpit Lane on Saturday.

Batting first, Weald would have expected over 200 runs on a perfect pitch and a tempting short boundary.

However, when Osborne fell for 0, the score was only 38 for two after 13 overs.

Then 10 balls later, Bruce Jones-Walker had more this onto 68 with an astonishing run of seven fours and a single off the otherwise economical Smith (4-40) and Brown (1-61).

This amazing cameo did not turn into the really big innings that Jones-Walker has been promising all season so it was left to Ian Vallance (51), Adams (30) and Osborne (22) to get nearer to the predicted target.

Vallance's innings was his third innings of significance on the last three matches, his average in these games now at 150.

Oldershaw (3-38) made the visitors task that little bit harder when he bowled the prolific Smyth with the first ball of the innings.

Osborne (3-38) caught and bowled Harding for 18 which put Weald in control.

Bishop (51) and Death (57) then retaliated with, what appeared to be a match winning partnership but the persistence of Weston (1-34) and Vallance (2-43) saw Haddock catch them deep on the boundary to swing the game back towards the fielding side.

Victory was sealed when stand-in captain Adams (1-1) took the final wicket in the 39th over.

Weald go into their next match hoping a consistent run will ease them closer to Division Three and the return of their inspirational captain will also aid this title chasing pursuit.

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