Wickford 1st 87 all out
Belhus 1st 89-2
ONLY two Wickford batsmen made double figures as an impressive Belhus attack made damaging inroads at the Dick Patmore Ground on Saturday. First change bowler Daniel Dreher collected 5-28 from ten overs, while Danny Norris and Liam Wilson picked up two apiece. Gary Wright with 29 and Dean Etchells, who scored 14, were the two home batsmen to record a personal tally of more than nine runs as Wickford were tumbled after 35.3 overs.
In the Belhus innings, Danny Joyce hit 30, while younger brother Joe’s undefeated 51 ensured he became the first batsman in the Shepherd Neame Essex League to score 500 runs for the current season, repeating his feat of the previous year. For the hosts, first change bowler David Cole claimed both Belhus wickets to fall, being Danny Joyce, caught by Craig Smith and there wasn’t much of wait for the second wicket when Martin Guilbert fell first ball to a catch by Chirag Desai. This result puts Belhus 21 points ahead of second place Oakfield Parkonians.
Horndon on the Hill 2nd 72 all out
Belhus 2nd 75-3
With the week’s adverse weather resulting in very damp pitches, it was not surprising that there would be a plethora of low scores in local cricket and so it proved in this local derby at Ockendon Recreation Ground. Quite understandably, when Belhus won the toss they had no hesitation in asking their guests to bat first, with Horndon being dismissed after 29.1 overs of hard graft. The home side reached their target after exactly twenty overs, which gave Belhus seconds their first league win since 14th May. They are now joint third with Gidea Park and Romford on 89 points behind leaders Old Southendian and Southchurch (140 points) and second place Hainault and Clayhall (101 points).
The Belhus second eleven also enjoyed success on Sunday with a 51-run win over Locksbottom. Baiju Mohammed picked up five wickets for 31 runs, while three Belhus batsmen achieved half-centuries. Captain Mike Randall hit 55 while Jack Plane struck 50 and Sam Hall finished undefeated on 53.
Stanford le Hope 3rd 88 all out
Belhus 3rd 89-3
Belhus workhorse Alan Maidment bagged five wickets at a cost of just 23 runs from a dozen overs at Warley on Saturday. There were also two wickets for both Billy Maidment and Jack Plane, which concluded the Stanford innings after 35.1 overs. Due resistance was offered by Deepak Kumar with 24 and Phil Anderson with 14. After the break, Sam Hall and Liam Waters saw Belhus home with the spoils as these two were both undefeated on 27 and 17 respectively, while Stuart Morris with 13 runs and Tom Thompson, 19 runs, laid the batting foundations. For Stanford, Nick Sharp, Andrew Powley and Michael Pearn picked up one wicket each. Belhus are now 13 points clear of second place Horndon on the Hill.
Hornchurch 5th 100-9
Belhus 4th 104-0
Robert Long and John Wilson picked up three wickets each to put the brake on the home side at Emerson Park Sports College on Saturday. Long finished with 3-20 from fourteen overs, eight of which were maidens. Meanwhile, Wilson cost only 16 runs from a six over spell which included one maiden. The safe hands of Eathan Morris pouched three catches in the outfield, then young Morris was part of a match-winning unbroken partnership as he scored 44. His opening colleague, Zak Wilson, was equally untroubled on 49 not out as Belhus reached their target after just 16.5 overs. This result puts Belhus 19 points clear of second place Upminster.
