CRICKET: Hadleigh & Thundersley suffered a seven wicket defeat against Belhus in the Premier Division of the Essex League.

Hadleigh batted first and were bowled out for 142.

Sam Handley top scored with 33 while Luke Smith added 26.

However, Belhus reached the required total for the loss of just three wickets despite the best efforts of Handley who took 2/47.

Hadleigh sit fifth in the standings while Billericay remain second from bottom after suffering a 27 run defeat against Wanstead & Snaresbrook.

Wanstead made 266/6 in their innings with Matthew Elliott the pick of Billericay's bowlers as he took three wickets for 61 runs.

But, in reply, Billericay were dismissed for 239.

Ross Poulton hit 51 while opener Nathan Khelawon scored 39 but it was not enough to stop Billericay being beaten.

In Division One, second from bottom Old Southendian lost by 89 runs at Shenfield.

The home-side batted first and made 172.

Matthew Austin (4/61) and Ahmed Khawaja (3/18) both impressed with the ball for Southendian who were then dismissed for just 83.

Matthew Darvill top scored with 37 not out but runs were in short supply elsewhere as Southendian were beaten on the road.

In Division Two, Wickford slipped off the top of the table after suffering an eight wicket defeat at Gidea Park & Romford.

Wickford batted first and were bowled out for 113.

Skipper Charlie Phillippe top scored with 41 while Chris Westwood was the second highest scorer with 23.

However, Gidea Park made it home for the loss of just two wickets as Wickford slipped down to second in the standings.

Leigh on Sea, in third place, are now just six points behind Wickford after drawing with Westcliff.

Leigh made 209/7 with Jon Edwards hitting 67 and Oliver Wagstaff scoring 52 while Adil Ali took 3/51 with the ball for Westcliff.

In reply, Westcliff made 200/6 with Joe Robbins finishing unbeaten on 63.

Elsewhere, Southend lost by 40 runs against Oakfield Parkonians and remain bottom of the table.