Essex League: Hornchurch draw positives at Wanstead

Hornchurch were able to draw the positives from their Hamro Foundation Essex League Premier Division trip to Wanstead.

The leaders saw the defending champions post 315-7 after being put into bat at Overton Drive, thanks to a superb century from young Ali Zeb.

Arthur George (3-71) and Billy Gordon had reduced the Herons to 30-3, but Tom Simmons (84) put on 150 with Zeb, who added a further 115 with Adnan Akram (35).

Zeb eventually fell to Adeel Malik (2-68) for 154, having faced 180 balls and hit two sixe and 15 fours.

And Hornchurch saw Jalpesh Vijay trapped lbw by Zain Shahzad for a first-ball duck, before Kishen Velani removed Lesbourne Edwards and George Hankins cheaply to leave the visitors 25-3.

Gordon (21) helped steady the ship with the returning Paul Murray, but became Shahzad’s third victim, with Luke Edwards following soon after.

But Murray shared 80 with Malik, hitting 10 fours in his 70 before being bowled by Joe Ellis-Grewal, and Ronnie Saunders (26 not out) added further support.

Malik finished unbeaten on 106 from 117 deliveries, with a six and 19 fours, as Hornchurch closed on 246-6 to claim nine points, which leaves them 27 clear of second-placed Colchester after 11 matches.

Hutton had to settle for 14 points from their home draw with Hadleigh, after Joseph Parry’s unbeaten 109 from 138 balls led them to 227-6.

Parry hit four sixes and six fours, and put on an unbroken 151 with Julian Whetstone after Hutton had been reduced to 76-6.

Whetstone finished unbeaten on 71 from 57 balls, with three sixes and seven fours, but Hadleigh’s openers put on 88 in reply.

Wickets then began to fall at regular intervals and they closed on 162-7, with Thomas Debenham (2-32), Viraj Gandhi (2-34) and Connor Limrick (2-38) all nabbing braces.

Brentwood fell to defeat at Chingford, after the home side posted 298-4.
Tom Balkwill (112) and Sehan weeraginghe (90) shared 165 for the third wicket, as Bailey Wightman picked up 2-44.

And a 42-run opening stand between captain Aaron West and Ed Ballard (47) proved the highest of Brentwood’s reply as they were dismissed for 197.

Charlie Griffiths hit six fours in his 16-ball 27, with Jack Hebron (23) and Wightman (20) the only other batters to pass 20.