Belhus 1st 262-6
Billericay 1st 135 all out
A first wicket partnership of 75 between Gavin Jefferies and Joe Joyce gave Belhus the perfect platform to complete a comprehensive 127-run success over Billericay at North Stifford on Saturday. Jefferies struck a patient 61 from 119 balls faced and hit six fours, while Joyce forced the pace with 45 off 53 deliveries, striking eight boundaries. The partnership was brought to an end by David Houghton (1-31) when Joyce was bowled. After the early loss of Ryan Wells, the score had reached 163 when Jefferies became the third wicket to fall, but by this time a big total looked on the cards. Danny Joyce, batting at number four, continued the momentum with 68 runs from just 66 balls and reached the boundary rope on nine occasions, until he was sixth man out, caught by David Hinnigan off the bowling of Gary Hynes (2-46), with the Belhus score on 228. There was no further loss, as Richard Day with ten runs and Martin Guilbert, 20 runs, scampered 34 quick runs between them in an unbroken seventh wicket stand of 34.
After the early loss of Billericay’s opening batsman Michael Smith, caught by Danny Joyce off the bowling of Connor Day (1-25) for just a single, Hinnigan entered the stage and struck 73 runs from 90 deliveries which included eight fours and the only six hit of the match. But he was helpless as he could only watch as no fewer than seven batsmen were dismissed at the other end as only Paul Southgate joined Hinnigan in double figures with eighteen runs to his name. Eventually Hinnigan was last man out to complete a fine win for the home side. Instrumental in the Billericay demise were Mathew Lewis junior, who claimed three wickets for just 21 runs from six overs, while Joe Joyce also picked up three wickets at a 19-run expend from five overs. Billy Winter wrapped up this Shepherd Neame league division two fixture with two wickets for only four runs from just three balls.
Belhus 1st 151 all out
Stanford 1st 119 all out
Belhus started their Essex Sunday League east division campaign with success over near-neighbours Stanford at the Recreation Ground. After the early loss of opener Paul Bennett without score, the innings largely centred around three batsmen who reached the 30 mark, being Michael Fogg with precisely that tally, while Roy Heffernan continued his good run of form with the bat with 34 while Danny Joyce struck 33. Despite a good all-round performance from Stanford’s Kevin Smith with 3-39 and 41 runs, the home side crashed to 119 all out as Danny Norris wreaked havoc with 4-19 from eight overs, three of which were maidens. With Joe Joyce (3-43) collecting his second three-wicket haul of the weekend, it was left to Bennett and Danny Joyce with one victim each to finish the job for the visitors.
Belhus 2nd 275-5 dec
Billericay 2nd 277-3
Belhus were comfortable at tea in the knowledge that they had posted a big score at Billericay’s Toby Howe ground on Saturday, only to find that the winning points in this Shepherd Neame division three fixture were to be picked up by the hosts following a magnificent 122 from the home side’s Daniel Harford. Scott Noble finished the job for Billericay with 59 not out, despite the best efforts of Keith Dhannie, who took all three wickets at a cost of 89 runs from 14.2 overs. Earlier, visiting captain Mark Sansom hit 65, while Roy Heffernan contributed 74 and Danny Norris was undefeated at tea with 57 runs to his name. This was the second highest losing total by a Belhus team after batting first.
Belhus 3rd 158 all out
Harlow Town 3rd 159-3
Belhus produced a woeful performance as they surrendered their opening league sequence of four straight wins by collapsing to 158 all out at Ockendon Recreation ground. Michael Cansdale top scored with 37, Jake Wolfe hit 30 as third change bowler mopped up the tail with three wickets for just eight runs from 6.2 overs (two maidens). For the visitors, Karl Seecharan struck 62 from 68 deliveries, his knock included eight fours and one six. For Belhus, Michael Randall, Sam Hall and Robert Long picked up one wicket each.
Harlow Town 4th 212-7 dec
Belhus 4th 215-5
The contrast between the two innings could not have been greater; the home side’s declaration centred around two batsmen, while the visiting Belhus tally was more of a team effort as their top six all made significant contributions. But alarmingly for Harlow Town, they contributed to their own downfall by producing an extras tally of 68, twice that of Suhail Shahid’s score. The home side gifted 22 byes, an astonishing 41 conceded in wides, while there were two no balls and three leg byes. Paul Whitlock hit 28 not out to see Belhus through to their five-wicket win; Paul Hall had a fine all round match with 3-17 and 25 runs. For the newtowners, Marc Lowers struck 104 until he was stumped by Toby Reynolds off the bowling of captain Michael Squires (1-48), while Lee Richardson scored 49.
Benfleet 4th 149 all out
Belhus 5th 152-9
Scott Fieldstead top scored for the home side with 51 runs but visiting captain Barry Ruck responded in kind with a match-winning innings of 57 not out as Belhus edged this match with their last pair at the crease. Ruck also held three catches in the outfield. Joseph Clarke claimed 4-42 for Belhus from two spells totalling 7.3 overs while third change Matthew Williams picked up 3-23 from six overs (one maiden).
