A CAPTAIN’S innings from Leigh’s Dean Waller ensured his side made it three wins in a row and carried them over 100 points.

Waller’s terrific 125 from only 96 balls – including 19 fours and five sixes – steered Leigh to victory against Gidea Park & Romford, and also made up ground at the top of the division as Belhus lost to table-topping Hornchurch.

Leigh have now won three games on the spin, having defeated West Essex and Billericay in their past two outings, and are picking up momentum in their drive for promotion to Division One.

Having won the toss and electing to bat, Waller’s side got off to a relatively good start, reaching 82 before second batsman Rob Catchpole was dismissed for 29. However at 88-4 the Leigh innings was looking shaky.

Enter Waller, who made his first century of the season, and put together a good partnership with Alan van Lint (28) as Leigh ended their innings on 299-9 from their 50 overs.

The Gidea Park & Romford response started well, reaching 117-3 at the early point and they looked set to challenge the total as Alan Croft (88) got into his stride, but he was dismissed by Alex Camp (4-33) as the visitors crashed to 244 all out.

Waller said his side were worthy winners.

“It is about time I put some runs on the board,” said Waller. “We were on the ropes early on at about 125-5 so I knew I needed to stay at the crease and it just worked for me.

“Three wins on the bounce is great for us and it shows what we are made of. Once you start winning everything becomes easier and we are hoping to continue this run next week against Belhus.”

Elsewhere in the division the derby match between Horndon-on-the-Hill and Billericay was abandoned after Billericay has batted 24 overs, reaching 82-3.

Then the rain came and Horndon never made it out to the crease, with the umpires calling time on the game.

Meanwhile, Westcliff-on-Sea remain rooted to the foot of the table after another heavy defeat at home against West Essex.

The game was seen as a good opportunity for Graham Cox’s side to get their first win on the board but they lost by seven wickets at Chalkwell Park.

Westcliff won the toss and chose to bat first on a day that promised rain and struggled with the bat, only scoring 119 runs for the loss of all ten wickets in 32 overs. Jan (3-26) and Gafangaf (3-24) did the damage for West Essex with the ball.

In their reply, West Essex cruised to the 120 target, having only lost three wickets – Riaz top scoring with 52 not out.