Westcliff 153

Chelmsford 154-4

(Chelmsford won)

Westcliff could hardly have picked a worst day than Saturday to give a very much below par performance.

Going into this Shepherd Neame League Division One affair in third place, they were well beaten by the leaders.

Said skipper Tim Wade: "It was by far our worst performance of the season. We didn't make anything like enough runs and were well beaten in the end.

"Certainly we couldn't expect any reward for a display like that against such an outstanding side."

John Waddingham (45) and John Pratt (29) did get among the runs for Westcliff, but for the rest it was a day to forget and they'll be looking to relaunch their promotion bid at Horndon next week.

Benfleet improving but still searching for first win

Benfleet 177-9

Harlow 180-4

(Harlow won)

Benfleet continued their Division Three improvement, but again went down to defeat in an enjoyable game at Harlow.

After being put in to bat, Benfleet were soon in trouble at 13-3. Opener Lewis Edwards played the anchor role as David Prophet, back at the club after a couple of years break, hit an attacking 30.

In fact, with Jon Hunter making 27 and Troy Burns 47, the middle and late order got the visitors up to a respectable total.

When the two teams met at the start of the season, N Odedra was the Harlow star with a century. He was not quite so prolific this time with 74, but got good support from T Rist (29).

Said skipper Jon Wright: "We are certainly a far more competitive side than earlier in the season, but what we lack is the strength in depth of some of our rivals.

"Obviously that's going to hit us hard as we move into the main summer holiday spell in late July and August.

"Also, as so often happens when you're low down, not much luck comes our way. Even the Harlow skipper was good enough to say that, on our performance against them, we shouldn't be struggling near the bottom."

Ongar rout Basildon

Basildon 104

Ongar 107-0

(Ongar won)

Basildon went into this Division Three clash second from bottom, but had high hopes of delivering the goods against the only team below them.

However, the new towners were without a handful of regulars and were well and truly routed by 10 wickets.

Only Steve Parker (27) and Brian Waterman (28) really got among the runs. Danny Gray (11) was the only other batsman to reach double figures as Stokes took 5-36.

Hutchins (51) and Jones (49) took Ongar to victory without a wicket falling. Life could get even tougher for Basildon - next week they take on runaway leaders Upminster.

Hornchurch get no break from Norm

Hornchurch 96

Leigh 97-4

(Leigh won)

Hosts Hornchurch would love to have enjoyed "a break from the Norm" as Leigh moved to the top of the Shepherd Neame League Second Division with a scintillating display.

It was medium pacer Norman Puckerin who caused all the problems for the home side.

In three spells he annihilated the opposition with overall figures of 8-26 in 16.3 overs, five of them maidens.

Leigh made short work of getting the runs in the hot conditions. They reached 50 without loss and finally won for the loss of only four wickets in the third of the final 20 overs.

Simon Goggin made 36 and Mark Sexton 25 and the early finish allowed the Leigh lads plenty of time to get to the wedding reception of colleague John Dyos.

Formerly a first team regular, Dyos is sidelined for the season after shattering his knee in a football accident.

Said skipper Simon Burch: "It was a very good all-round display with Norman's bowling performance obviously the highlight."

On the attack - Hadleigh & Thundersley batsman Neil Goodman in action against Horndon bowler R Hamilton

Picture: ANDY PALMER

Old boys' promotion hopes slip

Stanford 205-7

Old Southendian 180

(Stanford won)

The Old Boys' promotion hopes took a dive with a miserable afternoon at previous bottom club Stanford.

A bad-tempered affair on a far from perfect ground hardly made for an idyllic afternoon, but there is no escaping that this was a well below par Southendian display in which only Des Beckett (54) made any real impression.

Get on course to improve

Budding cricketers aged between nine and 12 will have a chance to improve their skills at two sessions organised by Basildon Council and run by Essex County Cricket Board.

The first is at Gloucester Park, Basildon, on August 4. Places must be booked by July 21 and cost £5. Holy Cross Park, Fryerns, hosts the second on August 18. Places must be booked by August 4 and cost £5.

Contact the council's LeisureLine on 01268 294929 for more information.

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