BILLERICAY I...............................247-9 dec

SAFFRON WALDEN I.........................212-9

(Match Drawn)

(Shepherd Neame Essex League)

For the second time this season Billericay got the better of league leaders, Saffron Walden, but came away cursing their luck in not completing victory on either occasion.

The home side won the toss and asked Billericay to take first knock and saw their visitors make an encouraging start with an opening partnership of 47 between Jon Walford and Richard Swile before Swile was dismissed for 23.

Walford remained and looked pure class but he was unable to find a partner to stay with him for long enough to build a big partnership.

Walford finally fell three runs short of a deserved century, leaving his side something to do it they were to post a decent score and indeed it was left to the tail to add vital runs.

Ian Pont (26 n.o) and Andy Maxwell (15 n.o) added 28 in a late flurry but were still unable to claw the score about 250 which would have given them full batting points.

For the home side Steve Plumb bowled a mammoth spell in claiming five for 54.

On a track as renowned as Saffron Walden's, 247 never looked a large enough total to worry the home side.

However, a superb effort in the field from Billericay very nearly led to a turn up of the books, this after Walden had made a solid start with a half century opening partnership.

However, as so often happens after a long partnership one wicket lead to another immediately as Walden struggled against the excellent bowling of Andy Maxwell (2-65 from 29 overs).

A recovery saw the home side reach 130 before losing their fourth wicket and again another went down without addition and Billericay were on top, particularly as the sixth wicket went down just seven runs later.

The home side were then indebted to number six Fletcher (40 n.o), who brought some order to the innings and stood resolute as his colleagues failed around him with Walford (3-37) and Pont (2-32) taking wickets at regular intervals.

Indeed Walden were relieved when time expired and they could escape with a draw.

Bottom of the table Wickford are the visitors to Blunts Wall Road this Saturday, with Billericay looking to complete the double over their local rivals.

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