Billericay walloped basement club Woodford Green by nine wickets as they finally got their season underway.

Stewart Rutland’s team saw their opening match of the season abandoned because of the weather.

But they made up for lost time by posting 124-1 in reply to their visitors’ 120 all out total.

“I’m really happy with the bowling and fielding because it’s the first time we have been outside this year,” said Rutland.

“All the wickets were shared around and as run chases go, it was pretty good too.

“It’s been a nightmare trying to play and it great to have got out there and done the business.”

It moved Billericay up to joint third place with league newcomers Harlow Town.

The other side to have joined the league this summer, Pegasus & Corringham, also tasted their first victory.

Pegs had a 15-run defeat to current leaders Old Brentwoods in their opening game, but won by six wickets away to Hutton, with Paul Bennett stealing the limelight.

He took 2-33 and Ian Turnbull claimed 3-38 as the hosts were restricted to 196-7.

Hugh O’Dell (43) and captain Bobby Bull (51) offered most resistance, batting at two and three, but Graham Spooner’s 21 was the next highest score.

Bennett opened the Pegs reply with a mighty 112 from 118 deliveries, including three sixes and 15 fours.

When he was bowled by Spooner, captain Danny Laird (15no) and Neil Gray (32no) steered Pegasus to 201-4 off 35.2 overs. Gray’s total included four sixes and a four.

“It was a brilliant result and we played well to be fair,” said Laird.

“We had a couple of people missing because they were at Wembley watching West Ham.

“The second and third batsmen put on 70 or 80, but it was a testament to our bowling and fielding that we kept them under 200.

“There was a bit of a worry when we were 20-2 as last week we had a bit of a collapse.

“But Paul was great and was well supported by Martin Sayer before Neil and I finished the job.”

Benfleet were the latest victims of Old Brentwoods, losing by 107 to the big-hitting Old Boys.

Brentwoods racked up some large scores on their home pitch last season and posted 363-9 from their 50 overs on Saturday.

Paul Tremain caught opener O Chowdray for 11 but then wickets were interspersed with solid knocks as the scoreboard ticked over I Singh (80), Shahid Iqbal (62), Asif Iqbal (58), Khaldi Mahmood (49no) and Usman Aslam (41) contributed most to the Old Boys’ total.

Ryan Pryor took 5-50 and Gavin Blowes 2-80 before Benfleet’s reply was underpinned by a century from Ray Gipson.

The opening batsman hit 13 fours on his way to 106 before being caught by I Singh.

Former Benfleet skipper Paul Tremain hit 24, Rob Zammit 18 and Sam Bibby 17no before Benfleet were all out for 256 off 49.5 overs.

“It was always going to be tough being our opening game, and our fielding and bowling performance showed that,” said Benfleet captain Dave Wright.

“We did not get any luck and everything they did went well.

But he added: “However, we knew getting 360 was a tall order so we said let’s get 250 and collect maximum batting points.

“We did that and I’m pleased because it’s easy to lose in this format and not get any points, so to get maximum batting points was an excellent effort and I take my hat off to the team.”