Essex League: Draws for Division One rivals, as Fives cheer

But title-chasing Fives & Heronians had most to cheer after beating basement boys Old Brentwoods by 39 runs.

Put into bat at The Paddock, they posted 215-7 in 37 overs after half-centuries from Brad Copper (66) and Aryan Gupta (53).

Muhammad Sajid took 4-82 for Brentwoods, who were dismissed for 176 in reply as Copper (4-36), Khpalwak Zazai (4-56) and Ross Ter Braak (2-46) combined.

Opener Hasnain Ali (39) top scored for Brentwoods, as Rashid Mullazadah (31) and Fawad Mullazadah (22) also made starts.

The win left Fives eight points behind leaders Epping, who held on for a draw against Upminster.

Pulkit Gupta (73) and opening partner Beau Webster (54) set Upminster on their way to a score of 220-8 in 37 overs, as Aaron Beard and James Evans both made 25.

Shafiq Rahman (3-13) and Nehal Butt (3-35) made inroads in reply, but Epping closed on 147-7 from 29 overs.

There were tight finishes in two other fixtures, as Harold Wood closed on 192-8 in reply to Gidea Park & Romford’s 199-7 in their derby at Gallows Corner.

Jamal Francis hit a second successive century for Park, scoring 104 off 96 balls with two sixes and 14 fours.

Sam Hewitt (29) was the next highest scorer, as Praveen Kumar (3-53) and Dan Carter (2-65) had most success with the ball for Wood.

The visitors, after Taqi Abbas made 32, slipped to 75-4 in reply, before a 54-run stand between Craig Sampson (26) and Shahbaz Khan.

But Khan lacked support down the order and was left unbeaten on 82 with Wood eight short of their target, as Will Chuter (3-47) and Nirbhay Bist (2-24) took bowling plaudits for Park. 

It was closer still at Shenfield, who were four runs short of their target with their last pair at the crease after Ilford posted 213-6.

Mohammad Ahktar (74) and Akhil Anil (69) put on 146 for the first Ilford wicket, before Christopher Bridle (4-63) made the breakthrough and Tom Arnold (2-67) had success at the other end.

Shenfield slipped to 92-5 in reply, as only Usman Ul-Haq (43) made an impact, but captain David Hickey and Arnold put on 65 for the seventh wicket to raise hopes.

Hickey fell for 76 off 60 balls, having hit two sixes and nine fours, and Arnold was left unbeaten on 46 from 40 deliveries.

Ahktar (4-83) was the pick of Ilford’s bowling, with Prahathen Jayarooban nabbing 2-35.

The other drawn contest saw Billericay post 303-5 at Belhus, after Raynard Van Tonder’s 149 from 118 balls, which included six sixes and 16 fours.

He put on 169 with David Houghton (72), before Robert Rayner, Arjun Bhardwaj (2-43) and Ross Poulton (2-45) reduced the hosts to 148-5.

But Joe Joyce (62 not out) and Danny Joyce (40 not out) put on an unbroken 74 for the sixth wicket to see Belhus to 222-5.