BROOKWEALD 131

LEIGH 135-1

(LEIGH WON)

Leigh skipper Simon Burch had words of sympathy for overwhelmed Brookweald - and words of optimism for his Division Two leaders.

Steve Adelaine's unbeaten 68 headlined Leigh's nine-wicket success, although, in Brookweald's earlier slump, Dave Glynn had grabbed 3-27 and John Elliott 3-14 in just eight overs.

Burch said: "Brookweald were without their star player, Craig Miller, and they're obviously very short of players at the moment.

"It's a bit sad because they've always been a good club."

He added: "Once we've played everyone once, we'll get a much clearer idea of the strength of the league.

"Of the current top sides, we dominated against South Woodham, but it was quite obviously an off-day for them and their record in the past means they've got to be respected.

"Old Southendian showed they are a very strong batting side - and the team that are fourth, Ilford, are up against us next week."

Leigh dismissed bottom-placed Brookweald for 131 in 48 overs, albeit after a stand of 50 had somewhat revived the hosts from 76-8.

Norman Puckerin took two wickets, with Brian Pettit and Jerry Holmes claiming one apiece.

Adelaine and Nigel Homes (34) then put on 61 for Leigh's first wicket, before Burch (32 not out) came in to steer the visitors home with 12 of their 44 overs left.

Burch said: "If we play as we can do, we'll let other sides worry.

"We've got four wins out of seven, with two games abandoned, and I'll be happy if we keep up that sort of record," the captain added.

Defeated Wickford dozen points adrift

FIVES & HERONIANS 266-6 declared

WICKFORD 191 all out

(FIVES WON)

The joy of qualifying for the new Premier Division on the final day of last season becomes an ever more distant memory for Wickford week by week.

Saturday's 75-run defeat at fourth-placed Fives & Heronians leaves the south Essex side stranded 12 points below second-from-bottom Woodford Wells.

Just as tellingly, Wickford have fewer points (21) and more defeats (five) than any other side in the four divisions of the county's Shepherd Neame League.

Gary Edwards' 102 and 55 from Simon Fitzgerald took Fives & Heronians to a fairly daunting declaration total.

Then Gary Porter's 54 rarely looked likely to be enough to fend off defeat for Wickford.

One consolation is that Woodford Wells continue to struggle - but even they rattled up a useful score on Saturday.

Graham Rigby (66) and Gareth Jenkins (67) helped them to 271-6 declared, only for Shenfield to reach victory at 277-2 - thanks to unbeaten pair Craig Parkinson (143) and Phil Bird (62).

There is already something of a gap between the two lowest-placed sides and the rest of the Premier Division, but Wickford have the chance to close it this weekend, at home to third-from-bottom Wanstead. Southendian punish World Cup bowler

OLD SOUTHENDIAN 276-4 declared

ILFORD 198

(SOUTHENDIAN WON)

A magnificent all-round victory - even destroying a Pakistan World Cup bowler - left Old Southendian skipper Chris Bunce brimming with delight.

He labelled Des Beckett's unbeaten 110 "absolutely brilliant" as the Old Boys reduced Ilford's International "guest" Mohammed Akram to 0-81 in 17 overs.

Akram's extreme pace did, however, claim one early victim - Southendian opener Peter Gray, who retired in the fourth over after being hit on the head.

Bunce said: "He wore a helmet for the first time ever when he heard that Akram was playing.

"There could have been very serious damage if he hadn't been wearing it.

"But there's still a big lump on Peter's head," he added.

James Blackmore (44) helped Beckett put on almost 100, while Alan Draycott confirmed the consistency of Southend-ian's batting by cracking 59.

F Sharif, with 2-79 in 16 overs, was Ilford's most successful bowler, although it should be said that Akram switched from speed to experimental bowling for around nine overs.

Ilford's response was over-reliant on skipper K Prabhakar (48) and M Malik (60) as Dave Slaughter returned to top form with 6-95 in 18.4 overs.

Fellow slow bowler Dave Evans took 3-75 and Beckett claimed Ilford's other wicket in Southendian's 78-run win, which came after 36.4 overs.

Bunce said: "Our slow bowlers did very well, we fielded excellently and it was a superb performance from everyone against a strong side.

"But it was a bit of a surprise when they put us in on a baking hot day."

The third-placed Old Boys are seven behind leaders Leigh but 21 clear of Ilford, who are fourth.

Bunce said: "We're playing two of the bottom three in the next two weeks, Brookweald and Hornchurch, so things are looking very good for us at the moment." Benfleet impress in draw

BENFLEET 212-4

ONGAR 140-8

(DRAW)

Stand-in skipper Paul Tremain led Benfleet to their finest display so far this season, and his elder brother Mike smashed by far their highest score - 132.

Three catches were dropped in paceman Troy Burns' penultimate over as Ongar just clung on for a draw.

Benfleet, who won the toss on quite a good wicket, more or less dominated after they had overcome the loss of three quite early wickets.

Much of Mike Tremain's support came from Nigel West (19) and Jon Hunter (32 not out).

Humphrey (2-46) proved Ongar's most effective bowler, but Benfleet set a useful declaration target after 49 overs.

Their victory hopes promptly soared when in-form Burns swiftly claimed an Ongar scalp.

However, the home side's next couple of stands, and in particular opener D Bates' careful 40, greatly dampened Benfleet's chances.

Nonetheless, Burns (3-39) and fellow opening bowler Stuart Wiggins (2-40), plugged away well, while Chris Collier (2-25 in 11 overs) recorded his best spell of the season and West (1-12) also chipped in. Ongar survived after 43 overs to pick up two points and Benfleet 11.

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