Colchester and East Essex maintained their 100 per cent record and excellent start to their Shepherd Neame Essex League campaign with a comfortable six-wicket win over Orsett.

Having won the toss for the second week in succession, skipper Andrew Kennedy inserted the opposition on a very hard, flat Castle Park wicket.

Colchester's seamers plugged away on a pitch offering little sideways movement but plenty of bounce, with little reward. Only Gibbs picked up a wicket.

The spin trio of Doe, new recruit Kevin Crossley from Fives and Heronians, and Scott McKillop were then introduced, and thanks to three wickets from McKillop and some fine fielding, Orsett only reached 200 in the 52nd over.

This left Colchester around 2 hours to reach their target of 205.

Their innings got off to the best possible start with Jon Butcher (42) and Chris Wheeler adding 79 for the first wicket.

Wheeler then added 47 with Napier (26) in seven overs, and 44 with Kennedy (15) in 11 overs, which left Colchester needing to score just 37 off the final eight overs.

This they did with 2 overs to spare thanks to a quickfire 17 from Lorrie Austin off 15 balls, and to Wheeler who ended on 94 not out, having batted for 150 minutes.

It was a superb knock, and was the platform to Colchester's second consecutive victory.

Colchester lead Division One jointly with Chingford.

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