Starring roles by Dedham's Dave Baalham and Silver End's Andy Papple were the highlight of the Osborne League action.

Baalham took four wickets and scored an unbeaten 95 as he led his Division Three side to a four-wicket win over Tendring.

Baalham took 4-11 as Tendring were restricted to 152 for 8, Colin Day reaching his 50 off the last ball of the innings.

In reply, Baalham proved immovable as he took his side past the target for the loss of six wickets with 11 balls to spare.

In Division Two, Papple helped skittle relegated West Mersea for just 82 by taking 5-7.

Mersea's poor start in the division was confirmed when their opponents completed victory with seven wickets to spare, Papple scoring 41 not out.

After a second miserable weekend weatherwise, this is the only Division Two match to be completed so far this season.

The wet conditions were reflected in the low scores across the league.

Champions Boxted got off to a flying start, thrashing Shalford by 99 runs.

Boxted were bowled out for 153, Rohan Khaira making 47, but Shalford's reply was catastrophic. Kel Llewellyn took 4-7 as Shalford struggled to reach a paltry 54.

Off-spinner Anthony Gibby grabbed five wickets for Colchester and East Essex in the other top-flight match.

He took 5-14 as St Osyth suffered a middle order collapse at Castle Park.

Colin Dixon, who put on 75 with Nick Shuttleworth for the opening wicket, top-scored with 47 for the visitors who slumped form 100 for one to 116 for seven and finally 147 for nine.

When Colchester and East Essex batted, St Osyth put down several chances.

After losing three wickets in as many overs, Colchester passed their target with six wickets to spare to record their second win of the season.

The two clubs also met in the fourth division and produced the closest finish of the week.

Toosey turned the tables in this low-scoring clash, winning by just four runs.

St Osyth, batting first, scored 103 for nine, Andrew Snaith leading the way with 31, from their allotted overs.

In this game it was Colchester's turn to collapse, slumping from 79 for three to 99 all out, Jim Pallett crucially taking 4-21.

But it was youngster Selway who captured the final wicket amid much trension.

Colchester's final man Parish had just smashed a six when Selway struck aided by a catch from fellow colt Paul Hawkins.

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