Billericay were hosts to Woodford Wells on Saturday at the Blunts Wall Road ground.

Woodford Wells, having won the toss, decided to bat and openers Marshall and Gareth Jenkins built a solid base for a total sufficient enough to challenge the in-form Billericay line-up.

The introduction of spin twins Andrew Maxwell and Barry DeGoede saw the breakthrough with Jenkins being caught behind off Maxwell and South African DeGoede trapping Devereaux and Weeks leg before wicket in his first two overs.

However, Marshall continued his vigil to bat throughout and was joined by Price to form a solid 129 fourth wicket partnership before Marshall fell to Pont for 108 caught by Walford.

Woodford Wells closed their innings on 281 for eight in 63 overs with Price remaining unbeaten on 110.

Billericay's best bowlers were Pont (3-59), Pryke (2-35) and DeGoede (2-37).

Jon Walford and Richard Swile opened Billericay's response putting on 7- for the first wicket in as many minutes before Walford retired at 53.

Swile continued with able support from Danny Pryke (27) and Essex all rounder Danny Law.

Law struck an entertaining 86 in only 40 balls (10 fours and two sixes) to continue his recent good form with the bat.

Swile eventually fell for 72 (52 in boundaries) to Wells' bowler Intiaz, but Law's dominating batting with late order support from wicketkeeper, Andy Bethell (22 not out) saw Billericay to victory reaching their target for seven wickets in the 55th over. Intiaz final figures being four for 47 in his 11 overs.

l This win places Billericay in the top three of the Premier League and next week they visit local rivals Shenfield.

Seconds force draw

WOODFORD WELLS II.....235-9 dec

BILLERICAY II..........................137-5

(Match Drawn)

Billericay XI visited Woodford Wells for a Premier Division clash without seamer Gary Marshall and so all rounder Alan Davies was drafted in to share the bowling duties.

Billericay, having won the toss, elected to field but failed to make full use of the new ball on a wicket offering assistance to bowlers able to hit the seam.

Woodford opener, Moss, capitalised on sometimes erratic bowling and, assisted by number 4 May, helped Woodford build a total beyond 200.

May's selective hitting of poor deliveries dictated the innings finishing on 75 after opener Moss had struck 70 for the home side.

Woodford finally declared on 235 for nine in 47 overs with Jason Curnick the pick of the Billericay bowlers with six for 75 in 16 overs.

Ash and Powell opened Billericay's response but both batsmen fell with the score on only 40.

Captain Dave Pritchard pulled things together with assistance from in form Scott Noble (2) and Richard Walford.

Billericay had reached 137 for three with 15 overs left to get the further 99 runs required for victory when the heavens opened and a freak storm finished the day's proceedings.

Billericay play host to a strengthened Ilford team at Blunts Wall Road this Saturday.

Thirds slump to Hainault

HAINAULT & CLAYHALL.......179-9

BILLERICAY III..........................135-5

(Match Drawn)

Hainault, batting first, struggled to come to terms with the Billericay seam attack of Mayhook, Scurfield, Hynes and Parkinson.

Only Saleem put up any real assistance with 49 before being trapped leg before by Hynes.

Hainault did, however, achieve a potentially difficult target of 179 for nine in 53 overs and the pick of the Billericay bowlers was Stuart Hynes with six for 46 in 12 overs, assisted by captain Mark Mayhook (3-45).

In reply, Billericay lost wickets consistently throughout the 34 overs they received.

Only opener Mike Smith (23), Graham Greenless (32) and Mayhap (34) offered a spark of hope in chasing the target with Jon Batson and Gary Hynes being unfortunately run out.

Billericay finished on 135 for five in reply before the rain arrived to end an interesting contest and S Bye (2-37) Hainault's main wicket taker.

Wicket keeper Ian Etheridge was taken to Basildon Hospital after receiving a blow to the head but should be available when Billericay third play host to Horndon on the Hill.

Fourths walk over Walthamstow

WALTHAMSTOW IV.........135 all out

BILLERICAY IV...........................136-2

(Billericay won by eight wickets)

The feature of Walthamstow's innings was batsmen setting themselves for a significant score and then getting out.

Six scored double figures but none took their score beyond 21.

Billericay's bowlers took wickets at regular intervals to restrict Walthamstow to 153 in 46 overs. John Pickup took 3-31, Chris Jackman 3-13 and Scott Minto 2-28.

Billericay opener, Dave Randall and Steve Farmer found the task easy reaching victory in only the 25th over. Farmer led the way with an entertaining 77 not out (11 fours and two sixes) and Randall supported with 50 not out (eight fours).

Billericay now look forward to a local derby with Wickford this Saturday.

Fifths fall short

GRAVESEND IV.................166 all out

BILLERICAY V............................146-9

(Match Drawn)

Billericay entertained Gravesend at Lake Meadows on Saturday.

Gravesend batted first, with only Nunnery and Simmond scoring well, 30 and 51 respectively.

Even with the 26 extras given away by the home side Gravesend managed a reachable target of 166 all out.

The pick of the Billericay bowlers were Graham Bangs (4-42), Neil Rutland (3-24) and Graham Hammond (2-17).

Billericay, even with a solid contribution from opener Alex Saich (25) and Hammond (35 not out) struggled to reach Gravesend's total.

A demon spell from Copse (5 for 39 from 11 overs) supported by Simmonds (2-21) and Kellener (2-34) restricted Billericay to 146 for nine at the end of their 50 overs.

Billericay play host to Municipal College at Lake Meadows on Saturday.

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