Old Southendian & Southchurch remain top after win against West Essex

OLD Southendian & Southchurch remain top of the table following their seven-wicket win over lowly West Essex.

The Old Boys bowled their hosts out for 153 but were made to work hard in their reply after losing three wickets cheaply before posting 154-3.

Adam Hunt (5-38) ripped through the middle and tail, with Adam Rendell (3-32) and Matthew Austin (2-37) also playing a key part.

Rob Johnston (56 not out) saw Max Craddock, Chris Bunce and captain Aaron Lucas all go for eight runs.

But Matt Wilson’s unbeaten knock of 78 got the reply back on track.

“It looked like a comfortable result but their opening bowlers were probably the best that we have faced all year,” said Lucas.

“So it’s credit to Rob for anchoring the innings when things weren’t going well and Matt for a brutal knock to get us over the line. Adam bowled really well but I’m lucky that I’ve got five bowlers who can all do a good job.”

Westcliff on Sea slipped a place to fourth following their three-wicket defeat at home to Woodford Green.

Peter Barnes (64), Charlie Lockhart (57) and Jack Stead (42) were the mainstays of the home side’s 254-5, with Sean Martin taking 3-49.

Callum Pastfield (3-44) and Luke Hurley (2-66), on his first team debut, got among the wickets but inconsistencies in the fielding let Anthony Palmer (79) help Woodford to 255-7.

“Saturday was a major learning curve,” said Westcliff captain Chris Gladwin.

“If we had fielded well and we had another 30 runs we would have won it.

“I asked the lads afterwards where they thought we had gone wrong and they all said the same thing, we didn’t get enough runs and switched off in the field at times.

“But this year is all about them learning and we gave first team debuts to Ishan Madan and Luke Hurley and they both did well.”

Basildon & Pitsea are fifth after slipping to a three-wicket defeat to Walthamstow at Mopsies Park.

Yash Patel (46) and Rob Davies (41) anchored the hosts’ innings, which reached 239 all out in 47.5 overs, with Mark Goulding (3-62) leading the Walthamstow attack.

Ben Munday (3-46) and Lloyd Lambert (2-49) got among the wickets but it was not enough to stop the visitors posting a winning 240-7, largely thanks to Paul Miller (68) and Asif Bala (40).

Walthamstow moved up to third place, knocking Westcliff down a position.

Benfleet were on the back foot against promotion-pushing Oakfield Parkonians after they stumbled to 100-8.

The tail wagged thanks to 80 runs from skipper Gareth Steed but it was not enough to avoid a 32-run defeat. The hosts posted 228 all out as Callum Wheeler, Jamie Hodgson and Chris Coldicott, playing a rare game for Benfleet, took three wickets each.

But the Oakfield bowlers performed well with the new ball and Benfleet’s last three batsman salvaged some batting points as they reached 196 all out.

“We were never really in the game after the first 20 overs. If you lose wickets early on then there’s not really much you can do,” said Steed.

“We were pleased to get a respectable score because last year they rolled us over and it was embarrassing.”