BILLERICAY I..................................195-8

FIVES & HERONIANS I.................196-2

(Fives won by eight wickets)

(Shepherd Neame Essex League)

An already depleted Billericay side were struck further blows when two players were forced to drop out just hours before the start of Saturday's match.

Already deprived of the services of Danny Law who was twiddling his thumbs as 12th man for Essex in Cardiff, and two players dropped for arriving late at the previous week's match, a hasty reshuffle was required when spinners, Andy Maxwell and Barry De Goode cried off, through illness and injury respectively.

Consequently, the side took the field with five second team regulars on display and two of these made the most of their opportunity with fine innings' that rescued Billericay from an even heavier defeat.

Scott Noble and Steve Ash came together at the fall of the fifth wicket with the score on 88, this after openers, John Walford (32) and Richard Swile (21) had given the innings a good start with a 53 run partnership.

The pair stopped the rot and set about building a decent score which was not easy against the ultra defensive field placing of the Fives' skipper.

Their partnership spanned 81 minutes in which time they added 79, however, faced with the need to increase the tempo as the final overs approached both were dismissed with the score on 167, Noble making a well constructed 44 and Ash 37.

This left skipper, Ian Pont (19 n.o) to make the most of a bad job in the latter stages.

For the visitors, Harvey took five for 41.

The final score of 195 was never likely to be good enough and although the Billericay seamers bowled well they were unable to make the necessary early breakthroughs to worry their opposition.

Edwards (77 no) batted throughout and was well supported by Orchard-Lisle (43) with whom he shared a stand of 62, and Ballard (55 no).

Billericay make the long trip to Saffron Walden this Saturday, hoping to be back to a full strength side as they take on the league leaders.

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