OLD BRENTWOODS 207-6 dec

SOUTHEND 204-8

(DRAW)

Fourth-placed Southend missed out on victory by three runs in this closely-fought Third Division game.

Old Brentwood won the toss and elected to bat on a very warm afternoon.

They made 207-6 from 52 overs with opener Laurie Bell making a respectable 69 and Ian Chrispin adding 57 runs to the innings.

Southend captian Nigel Green was pleased with his bowlers' performance which saw Lee Stace taking 2-35 off 10 overs.

Steve Lafflin got the Southend reply off to a flying start by quickly notching up 46 before number three batsman Numan Khan added 76 to keep Southend on target.

However, there was to be high drama in the final over with Southend needing nine runs to win.

They got three off the first four balls and with two deliveries remaining, skipper Green made good contact to send the ball flying towards the boundary for what he thought would be a six and victory.

However, he was caught on the line and Southend had to settle for the draw and six points to the Old Boys' 11.

"It was avery good game, but it was a shame we did not win because we need to start winning games like this," said Green.

He reckons his team are playing well at the moment, but are not getting the rub of the green which is holding up their bid for a promotion place.

"We approach next week's Harlow game with confidence. We have five players back next week so we can put out our strongest side," Green added.

"It is a game we have got to win as we are at the stage of the season where it is death or glory."

Leaders show their strength

BASILDON 74

UPMINSTER 75-1

(UPMINSTER WON)

Basildon went into this game knowing they were in for a tough time against the Division Three leaders.

Upminster had won seven of their 10 games before this match, with bottom-placed Basildon still looking for the maiden victory.

With three or four first team players missing from the line-up, Basildon found it hard going.

Luke Daw (21 not out) and John Poole (11) were the only Basildon batsmen to get into double figures as the Upminster attack took its toll.

Upminster's reply saw them needing only 12 overs to get the 75 runs they needed for the win.

Rob Wilson had the only smile among the Basildon fielders after he caught Foss for the only Upminster wicket to fall.

"We were completely outplayed. They're bowling was very good," was Basildon skipper Mark Ayres' honest assessment.

"We were a little bit down yesterday because we know we did not play as well as we can, but we did not have the players available yesterday."

Ayres is now looking forward to next week's derby match at second-from-bottom Benfleet next week as two of his batsmen and a bowler missing this week will be available to play again.

Record win keeps dream alive

HADLEIGH 243-4 dec

WALTHAMSTOW 90

(HADLEIGH WON)

Hadleigh and Thundersley recorded a record win by demolishing Walthamstow to win by 153 runs to keep their promotion ambition on track.

Paul Corps produced a fine 102 and remained in bat throughout Hadleigh's innings as they laid the foundations for the win by reaching 60 for no wickets.

The hosts declared after reaching an impressive 243-4 leaving bottom-placed Walthamstow with a tough target to reach.

Hadleigh skipper Neil Barry made sure the visitors were never going to get in the chase by claiming a magnificent 7-31 as Walthamstow crashed to 90 all out.

Beaming Hadleigh spokesman Jon Wagstaff said: "Three weeks ago I said if we could win four games we would be in with a shout of promotion. We have won two out of three.

"If we could win two or three more we must be up there looking for promotion to the Premier Division."

Hadleigh are now in third and three points behind Colchester, who beat Orsett by five wickets on Saturday.

Chelmsford still lead the division by 17 points despite drawing against Brentwood. Hadleigh travel to Chingford next weekend for what will be a tough game.

The fourth-placed side saw off ninth-placed Ardleigh Green on Saturday by seven wickets.

Chingford are three points behind Hadleigh, who picked 18 points on Saturday to Walthamstow's one.

High five - Jerry Holmes (left) celebrates with a team-mate after bowling out a South Woodford rival during Leigh's seven-wicket triumph

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

Old Boys suffer costly collapse

OLD SOUTHENDIAN 113

WEST ESSEX 114-1

(WEST ESSEX WON)

The Old Boys saw their promotion challenge falter for a second week after mid-table West Essex cruised to victory following an Old Southendian batting collapse.

Old Southendian won the toss and elected to bat as skipper Chris Bunce felt the wicket would get worse as the day progressed.

Things started well with the Old Boys notching up 35-0 at one point, but it turned sour when they reached the 112-5 mark.

The batting collapse meant Old Southendian lost their last five wickets for the addition of a single run.

Andy Izod (23) and James Blackmore (22) were the Old Boys' leading batsmen, while Dean James led the West Essex attack with 7-49.

In reply, West Essex batted well to take victory for the loss of only one wicket.

"We got stuffed and did not get a point," said Bunce. "However, it was nice to play a game in a good sporting manner after last week's horrible game at Stanford.

"We had one instance where the umpires thought we had caught a batsman out, but we dropped it. We told the umpires and they called the batsman back."

Old Southendian host Buckhurst Hill next week. They are five points and two places below the old Boys in Division Two and were beaten by Old Parkonians on Saturday.

"We have got to beat Buckhurst Hill," said Bunce. "We have got seven games left and have got win five if we are to get promotion."

Leigh see off rivals comfortably

SOUTH WOODFORD 197

LEIGH 198-3

(LEIGH WON)

Skipper Simon Burch was cock-a-hoop after his league-leading Leigh side comfortably saw off second-placed South Woodford.

The emphatic seven-wicket win allowed Leigh to stretch their lead to 29 points after they picked up 18 points to South Woodford's seven.

"It is the best we have played all season," admitted a delighted Burch. "We bowled and batted very well, which was what we needed. This win sets us up nicely."

Nigel Holmes was the star bowler for Leigh as his 4-46 made serious inroads into the innings of South Woodford, who were eventually bowled out for 197.

Holmes was the star again as he enjoyed a great 74 not out knock with team-mates Mark Sexton (42) and Steve Adelaine (36) doing enough to to ensure Leigh took victory.

Leigh face Old Parkonians away next weekend with the visitors looking to do the double over their hosts, who beat Buckhurst Hill yesterday by four wickets.

"They have not set the world alight, but we should look to beat them because we have played everyone once, so we know what to expect," said Burch. "They were a good batting side, but not so good bowling."

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