SOUTHEND & EMT saw off Hadleigh & Thundersley by 32 runs to make it two Shepherd Neame Essex League Premier Division victories in a row.

Southend made 178 in their innings before dismissing Hadleigh for 146 at John Burrows Park.

And Southend skipper Tom Phillippe was delighted by the triumph as his team bid to work their way out of trouble at the foot of the table.

“It was really pleasing to get another win,” said Phillippe.

“The boys battled brilliantly in a well thought out game by both teams and it was great to get the victory.”

Southend batted first and initially found it tough going against their near neighbours.

Both of Southend’s openers fell cheaply and Joe Robbins, with 25, was the top scoring batsman in the top six.

Mohammed Rizvi added an important 28, but it was Adam Rendall - batting at number 10 - who played a pivotal part as he ended 41 not out.

Richard Revell, with 3-18, was the pick of Hadleigh’s bowlers, while Sam Handley took 3-33 and Haider Ali Syed Zaidi 2-26.

But Phillippe was frustrated not to have scored more.

“We didn’t bat well again and that is something we have to work on,” said Phillippe, who opened the innings for Southend.

“However, Adam Rendall was brilliant again with 40 odd not out and the lower order gave us a serious chance in the game on a difficult dry wicket.

“But both teams led the way with the ball and showed it was not easy to be a batsman out there.

“Revell bowled an excellent opening spell to put them on the front foot.

“But we knew 180 was very defendable.”

And that was ultimately the way it proved as Hadleigh were bowled out for 146.

Hadleigh opener Paul Tibbenham scored 24, while Handley added 22 and Luke Smith 21.

But no Hadleigh batsman was able to go on and get the substantial score needed to secure victory.

As a result, it was Southend who triumphed with Arafat Bhuiyan doing most of the damage with the ball as he took 4-25.

Robbins chipped in with 3-28 and Mohammed Rizvi 2-32 as bottom of the table Southend beat the team immediately above them in the standings.

Southend - who were hit by a 25 point deduction before the season got underway - are now 22 points below Hadleigh.

Southend will now be looking to make it three wins in a row when they host Chelmsford this weekend.