CHINGFORD I..................................124 all out

CHELMSFORD I......................................125-4

(Chelmsford won by six wickets)

(Shepherd Neame Essex League)

Chelmsford's recent excellent run continued with a polished performance on Saturday at second-in-the-table Chingford, who were in trouble from the first ball when Tim Jones deceived the Chingford opener into leaving a straight delivery.

This brought Alston to the crease who soon indicated his intention not to run between the wickets by hitting some early boundaries and then calling for a runner after pulling a muscle.

After a stand of 46 for the second wicket, Jones (3-42) struck twice in quick succession.

Phil Moffat then showed a subtle variation in length to pick up three wickets and leave Chingford deep in trouble at 72 for six.

Bunting and Dyers moved the score on to 102 before a superb catch by Ian Hare signalled the beginning of the end for Chingford who now had no answer to Moffat as he ran through the tail to finish with seven for 40 from 20.5 overs.

Bunting was left stranded on 44 not out in the final Chingford total of 124.

The Chelmsford reply began in solid fashion with Chris Cakebread and Ian Brailey batting well against some useful early bowling.

The change bowling was however lacking in penetration and the score began to move along quickly before Cakebread (33) was dismissed by McMurray.

Although two more wickets fell, Brailey (62) saw Chelmsford to the brink of victory before being caught with the scores level.

This comprehensive victory saw Chelmsford extend their lead at the top of the table at the season's halfway stage.

On Saturday Chelmsford entertain Westcliff-on-Sea at Chelmer Park and will be determined to keep up the winning momentum.

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