JIMMY Neesham proved to be the difference between Hadleigh & Thundersley and Upminster.

The Upminster number four notched up 125 runs to guide the visitors to John Burrows Park to a four-wicket win.

Neesham walloped 21 fours and four sixes from 87 balls before he was caught by Joe Robbins off a Sam Rowe delivery. His was the last Upminster wicket to fall before they posted 223-6 off 35.1 overs in reply to Hadleigh’s 222 all out off 43.4 overs.

Richard Revell (2-46) led the Hadleigh attack after the hosts had been been bowled out with 6.2 overs left of their allocation remaining.

And ultimately that cost them the match, despite an unbeaten 58 from Michael Lewis and 41 from Jarryd Blake.

“We got off to a good start but then we lost a flurry of wickets and perhaps we were not ruthless enough,” said Hadleigh skipper Adam Fleming.

“Our batsmen need to be a bit more selfish and help us push on for a large score.

“Upminster bowled reasonably well, but if we had got 250, 260 or 270 then it would have been a different game.

“We wished Neesham had not turned up as that guy just had his day.

“But he was a good batsman and it was a really good 125,” Fleming added.

“He edged a ball towards his stumps early on and if he had gone then it would have been a different game.”

Orsett were unable to build on their 60-run win over Hornchurch as they went down by six wickets at home to early season leaders Buckhurst Hill.

The hosts made a good start and reached 137-3 thanks to Philip Landman (57), Stuart Quilter (29) and Stuart Moon (19).

That became 149-5 as Jason Plom (4) and Mohammed Ahktar (22) quickly fell.

But 35 from skipper Kevin Sargent steadied the ship before Orsett were bowled for 223 in 49.1 overs, with Rob Petchey taking 3-33.

Orsett were given early hope when openers Russell Beckett and Rohan Bhome went with 41 runson the board.

But Ian Russell (67) and James Swash (29) added much-needed runs and Mike Peacock hit an unbeaten 50 to see Hill to 224-4 in 43.1 overs.

George Pavitt (2-35), Shahid Khan (1-24) and a run out accounted for the wickets