Essex League: Hornchurch captain hopes to keep bid on track

Hornchurch captain Billy Gordon is hoping his side can take another step towards the Hamro Foundation Essex League Premier Division title this weekend.

Chelmsford are the visitors to Harrow Lodge Park for the last of the timed matches, before the format reverts to limited overs for the last four fixtures of the campaign.

And Gordon’s men, who sit 31 points clear of Colchester at the top of the table, with Chelmsford a further 18 points back in fourth, want to maintain their momentum.

“Chelmsford is a key game. If we can bat first and not lose, get a good amount of points, it will stand us in good stead going into the last four limited-over games,” said Gordon.

“Three or our last five are at home and we would ideally like to wrap it up before the last day of the season [away at Colchester].”

Gordon maintained his fine form at the coin toss at Loughton last weekend, choosing to bat once more.

And he saw Paul Murray put on 73 with Jalpesh Vijay and a further 108 with Lesbourne Edwards before falling for 75 soon after lunch.

Edwards went on to make 82, with Adeel Malik hitting 53 off 45 balls to lift the total to 293-5 from 62 overs, allowing Gordon to declare.

“The boys batted well and got us to a nice score which we thought would be enough so we declared early to make sure we had enough time and then it was just down to the bowlers,” he said.

And the skipper then ran through Loughton’s top order to reduce them to 90-4, before Malik (5-49) and fellow spinner Marc Whitlock took the remaining wickets to fall to secure a 117-run victory.

“I bowled alright. It was nice to get a decent spell,” said Gordon, who took 4-48 from 11 overs.

“I’ve not bowled myself that much this season, as we’ve got plenty of bowling this year. It was nice to get a few wickets and Addy was remarkable again.

“Their run rate was good and they’ve got some talent in their side. It was another good win.

“It was great to get 25 points and we still had plenty of overs left.”

Edwards (63), Vijay (47), Malik (31 not out) and Gordon (26) led Hornchurch to 217-5 at Hutton in their Dukes Essex League Cup quarter-final on Sunday, before rain stopped play.

They are set to return to the Polo Field Ground this weekend to try again, with Gordon adding: “We’ve got a couple of gaps in the side. Les is not available which is a shame as he has done really well, and Whitlock is away.

“It’s a bit annoying having to go back to Hutton again and the weather doesn’t look that great again. It could be another washout, but hopefully not.”