OLD Southendian & Southchurch captain Aaron Lucas said his side “bottled it” as they fell 12 runs short against Oakfield Parkonians.

Captain Lucas (43) looked to be edging the Old Boys towards a draw but he was the last man out with six balls to spare as the tail failed to wag around him.

Oakfield Parkonians had been dismissed for 218, with Haris Khan’s 81 by far the best offering from the home team.

Sam Hodgson (3-60) and David Johnson (3-58) were most impressive with the ball, with Michael and James Bunce also taking a brace of wickets.

Old Southendian hit back well, with Rob Johnston (40) and Johnson (44) impressing but three late run-outs meant Southend were always chasing victory as they ended all out on 206.

“It was quite disappointing,” said Lucas. “Chasing 220 and the position we were in at 98-1 we bottled it a little bit.

“The senior players got in and got out, including myself, but if any of us had gone on we would have won the game. It was winnable once we got them out and we could have fielded better so we were chasing 30 more runs than we should have been although we bowled well.

“I was bowled with six to spare and I was going for the draw at that point so it was a hard one to take.”

It was more disappointment for Leigh-on-Sea as their search for a first win went on against Hutton.

Hutton won by three wickets to pick up their first points of the season, with all-rounder Carl Mumba inspiring them to victory.

Leigh were put into bat first and didn’t make the best start as Iain McDonald (12) and John Dyos (20) departed early to leave the visitors 36-2 but captain Dean Waller added 53 from 45 balls before falling LBW to Mumba.

Mumba took the first four wickets as he closed with figures of 5-64 with only Billy King (64) showing any resistance towards the lower end of the order, as Leigh ended on 226-8 in their 50 overs.

Leigh made a flying start in response as Dan Hagger went second ball as he was bowled by Greg Hammond (2-8 off six overs), and at 27-3 Hutton appeared to be in trouble.

But Mitch Fenn (44) and Mumba (71) took Hutton to 142-5 before Alex Tredgett (28) and Chris McNally (39 not out) helped them pass the target for the loss of seven wickets and with five overs to spare.

Leigh’s Paddy Groves (3-52) and Dan Cocking (2-69) were the pick of the bowlers.

Wickford drew with Harlow Town, with Dean Etchells produced a terrific unbeaten effort with the bat.

Etchells hit 127 not out as the rest of the Wickford order crumbled to leave them on 244-8 but it looked as though Harlow were set to surpass that target on 193-3, with Joe Holland’s 108 setting the tone.

But the next four batsmen departed for just 15 runs as the hosts closed on 243-8 before the day’s play was concluded.

David Cole took 4-53 for Wickford.

Horndon-on-the-Hill were comfortably beaten by Gidea Park & Romford as their 100 per cent record came to an abrupt end.

Put into bat, Horndon were skittled for just 145 in 35.4 overs, with Tom Stone (35) top scoring.

Gidea Park & Romford lost just two wickets in response, with Zisan Abedin (64) and Kasi Hoq (63 not out) ensuring an eight wicket win.

Ryan Madder took 2-25.