Benfleet and Billericay are the only teams in the division still to taste league defeat this summer — and they lock horns next week.

Both sides warmed up for the clash with victories, Benfleet ending Basildon & Pitsea’s unbeaten start to the season, while Billericay defeated Old Parkonians by two wickets.

Benfleet skipper Paul Tremain opted to bat after winning the toss and saw his visiting side reach 245-9 from their 50 overs.

Tremain hit 11 as the top order went cheaply before Ray Gipson (37) steadied things batting at four.

But Gavin Blowes (55), Sean Pritchard (40) and Gareth Steed (50) weighed in to turn the game in Benfleet's favour.

James Wilkins (13no) and David Miles (8no) saw Benfleet to their total, while the Mopsies Park attack was led by Lee Lewis (2-40), Dean Bedford (2-45) and Luke Daw (2-23), with Ben Munday, Chris Clarke-Irons and Liam Rouse taking a wicket each.

Jamie White went for two but his opening partner and skipper Danny Gray top-scored with 81.

Michael Gray (16), wicketkeeper Ashley Brown (17), Rouse (17) and Lee Lewis (18) all chipped in, with Clarke-Irons adding 25 runs.

Basildon were bowled out for 235 off 49.4 overs as David Miles claimed 5-48, Emmanuel Parmakellis 2-51, Sean Pritchard 2-28 and Chris Coldicott 1-30.

“The game could have gone either way on a number of occasions, but it was good to come away with a win,” said Tremain.

“We won the toss and thought we would get the best of the pitch. We lost early wickets again and it was the lower middle order who really dug in. Gavin Blowes got his first first team 50 and Sean Pritchard batted aggresively and that was a changing point.

“Gareth Steed hit a good 50 and at the point I think they started running out of options. We felt 240 was enough and we were satisfied with that.

“They got off to a flyer and Danny was smacking the ball to all corners as he took it to Chris Coldicott and Emmanuel Parmakellis.

“Emmanuel got one of their openers out but at the 20-over mark they were still favourites. Miles came on and ripped through the middle order but pulled up with a calf injury in the 40th over, and he could be out for most of the season, which is a big blow to us.

“They needed 10 off the last over and Chris bowled in the right areas and took the final wicket, which was pleasing to see.

“It was a really good performance with the ball for us and, after playing two of the weaker opponents, it was good to be able to test ourselves against one of the stronger sides.”

Basildon & Pitsea captain Danny Grays said: “If we had won I think it would have been a game where you think we deserved to win and equally, Benfleet deserved to win. It was a very close game.

“We thought 240 was a par score for that wicket and with the start we got we should have cruised home. We were nearly halfway there with eight wickets in hand.

“But we lost three quick wickets and that put us on the back foot. The problem was bad shot selection, so at least we know where we went wrong.

“Chris tried hard at the tail but to ask him to do it two weeks in a row is probably asking a little too much. The problem was someone else should have got some big runs because it was an easy wicket to bat on.

“I would not say there was a lot between the two sides and I think that if we both have good seasons, I fell it will be between us and a couple of the other teams for promotion.”

Billericay returned to winning ways with a two-wicket win over Old Parkonians, who were bowled out for 279 as Charlie Crassbourne and Stuart Hynes got among the wickets.

“They started pretty well and were scoring at a fair whack but we managed to claw it back in the middle by getting a spinner on, which turned the screw and slowed them a bit “It was quite a hard outfield to field on and all things being equal, it was a good effort by us. We stuck to our task and with a target of 279 after the last couple of weeks, we thought we would win the game.

“We put on 90-odd for the first wicket, with Mike Smith batting well for his 80, but after he went we lost a cluster of wickets for 40 or 50 runs and that put the game in the balance.

“Sixteen-year-old Paul Walters blasted 30 and we needed nine from the last over. Charlie hit a six from the fourth ball of the last over to win the match and finish on 54 not out.

“It was another great team performance and we kept on going until the last bat to take the maximum points on offer. I really can’t complain.”

Belhus enjoyed an 96-run win away to Ongar after winning the toss and electing to bat.

Openers Gavin Jefferies and Martin Guilbert departed with 21 on the board but skipper Wayne Read (38) and Joe Joyce (126) steadied the ship, with Joe's brother Danny hitting 43.

Michael Fogg (36) and Richard Day (35) helped take Belhus to 338-9, with Peter Ellis (4-48) and Jamie Abbott (2-65) enjoying most success with the ball.

Michael Hayward (62) and Rakesh Bagga (40) fared best with the bat as Michael Cansdale (3-59) and Dale Kenyon (2-60) claimed the most wickets, with Connor Day, Guilbert and Billy Winter taking a single each.

"We didn't get off to a great start and Gavin failed for us for the first time this season, which was a shame because he has been on fire.

"But Joe and I rebuilt it and Joe was superb. His brother Danny hit 45 and he is going to be another excellent acquisition.

"We batted as a unit and when it came to bowling, I probably gave them 60 runs as we set a tight field on Hayward, who was hitting the ball over the field, because I wanted Michael to try and bowl him out.

"But Michael bowled nicely for me and Connor Day was awesome, only giving away 14 runs in his 10 overs, four of which were maidens. Overall, it was a nice win."