Belhus 1st 164 all out Hutton 1st 165-6 BELHUS made a brave attempt to defend a below-bar batting tally at the Polo Field on Saturday as Dale Kenyon removed both home openers very cheaply. Hugh O'Dell was removed by only the second ball of the Hutton innings, trapped leg before, while fellow opener Stuart Feeley followed quickly back to the pavilion, having been clean bowled. When number four batsman Nick Vanner had his furniture re-arranged by Jabir Iqbal for eight runs, another dramatic Belhus fightback seemed possible. But Chanaka Withanage steadied the Hutton nerves with a patient 66 from 92 balls faced, striking nine boundaries. He was eventually caught by Martin Guilbert off the bowling of Gavin Jefferies (2-18). When Jack Potticary struck 37 in the middle order, the game was almost up and it was left to James Crapnell and James Southgate with 16 not out and 10 not out respectively to ensure the Shepherd Neame Essex League division two spoils went Hutton's way. Earlier, Guilbert, batting at number eight, top scored for Belhus with 46 from 67 balls which included six fours, while opener Danny Joyce contributed a patient 34 from 65 balls, hitting three fours and one six. Crapnell emerged with the bowling honours for the Brentwood-based team with 4-39 from 15 overs, three of which were maidens. The Belhus bowling attack was led by Kenyon, 2-43 from nine overs, while Gavin Jefferies was more economical, collecting 2-18 from seven overs, which included two maidens. Belhus 2nd 306-4 dec Epping 2nd 233-8 It was a case of like father, like son, at North Stifford on Saturday as Charlie Lewis and his dad, John, reached 70 runs each in a mammoth Belhus total in the Shepherd Neame Essex League. Danny Norris then carried the home side over the 300 mark with 52 not out while there were other significant contributions from Wayne Read with 43 and Mark Sansom, who was undefeated on 34. All the visiting bowlers came in for some 'tap', but Qadir was the pick of the bunch, picking up 2-77 from eleven overs (one maiden). The remaining two Belhus wickets to fall were shared by Rashid and Patel. After tea, Norris completed a fine all-round match by picking up 2-15, Michael Fogg collected 2-37 while Connor Day, Imran Mohammed, Richard Waters and Sam Hall bagged one victim each. But Epping, to their credit, held out for a draw, for whom Miah was top scorer with 55 runs to his name. Loughton 4th 270-6 dec Belhus 3rd 182-9 Loughton won the toss and elected to make first use of an excellent track at Ockendon Recreation ground on Saturday. Their decision was entirely justified as opening batsman Dominic Sweeting plundered 77 runs and Naved Ali hit only three fewer runs as the visitors cashed in on the favourable conditions. Toiling in the heat were Muddassir Mukhtar, 2-45 from nine overs and Keith Dhannie, 2-59 from fourteen overs, both with one maiden each. After the early loss of openers Tom Thompson, without score, and Stewart Farr for just five rins, Peter Clark and Stuart Morris began to build a partnership, until a horrid mix-up left Clark stranded mid-pitch for 21 runs. Captain Morris, who had earlier taken three catches in the outfield, continued to become the top Belhus score with 51. Then pace bowler Riki Laird wiped out the Belhus late-middle order with a hat trick. First to go was Jim Banner, bowled for 25, Jack Plane went in similar fashion next ball, followed by Brian Edwards, who was caught by Niketh Shetty. Laird finished with 3-24 from nine overs, three of which were maidens. However, the final Belhus pair of battled through the final ten overs to earn a fortuitous draw. Dhannie was there at the close to complete a fine all-round match with 35 not out. Old Southendian and Southchurch 4th 71 all out Belhus 4th 73-3 Business was conducted fairly swiftly at Shoebury Park on Saturday as the home side were dismissed inside 28 overs. Visiting pacemen Alan Maidment and Robert Long were too hot to handle, as they picked up eight wickets between them. Maidment bagged 4-19 from 13 overs, five of which were maidens, while Long also made short work of the Old Boys with 4-40 from ten overs (one maiden). He also contributed to the run out of number eleven batsman James McKelvie to end the home team's contribution, for whom Ken Johnson top scored with 19 not out, batting at number eight. After the break, Mike Randall ensured there was no alarm with a measured 23 not out, but home bowler Adrian Jaggard picked up three wickets, including Suhail Shahid for 17 and Scott Stonham for 14. Jaggard's final figures were 3-22 from ten overs which included three maidens, but Belhus completed the job in exactly twenty overs.
