Essex League: Hornchurch extend lead in Premier Division

Hornchurch extended their lead at the top of the Hamro Foundation Essex League Premier Division with victory at Hadleigh.

Captain Billy Gordon won the toss once again and chose to bat, but Jalpesh Vijay and Jamie Sorrell (20) fell early to leave them 27-2.

Lesbourne Edwards held firm with support from George Hankins (48) and Gordon (22) and was eventually dismissed for exactly 100 from 158 balls, having hit eight sixes and six fours.

That helped Hornchurch reach 233, as Haider Ali Syed Zaidi took 6-36 for the hosts.

And Hadleigh were soon in trouble at 5-2 as Arthur George and Gordon struck.

Gordon picked up another scalp with the total on 24 and wickets continued to fall at regular intervals to Adeel Malik (4-42) and Marc Whitlock (3-20) as Hornchurch wrapped up a 109-run victory.

It left them 31 points clear at the summit after nearest rivals Brentwood saw their match with Chelmsford end in a thrilling tie.

Chelmsford chose to bat at the Old County Ground but were dismissed for 148 in the 55th over.

Bailey Wightman (5-55) did most of the damage for Brentwood, as Ben Allison (3-34) and captain Aaron West (2-7) nabbed braces.

And Brentwood looked well placed at 110-3 after Daniel Drew (34) and Allison shared 66 for the third wicket.

Allison fell for 42 to Ben Waring, who ran through the lower order to finish with 4-19 from a tight 15-over spell.

And last man Wightman was bowled with the scores level, as James Redwood was left stranded at the other end.

There was disappointment elsewhere for Wanstead and Hutton, who both fell to defeats on the road.

Defending champions Wanstead saw Chingford post 250-3 from 50 overs after choosing to bat, thanks largely to Joe Byrnes (128 not out) and Sehan Weerasinghe (74), who put on 165 for the third wicket.

Wanstead lost Haaris Usman and Robin Das cheaply, with the 34-run stand for the third wicket between Tom Simmons (52) and Yuvraj Odedra the best of their innings.

Ali Zeb (24), Adnan Akram (34) and Jonathan Das (32 not out) made starts, but the Herons were dismissed for 184 in the 46th over.

Hutton posted 220-3 against Colchester at Castle Park thanks largely to Joel Hussain and Joseph Parry.

They put on 156 for the third wicket, before Hussain fell for exactly 100 off 197 balls, having hit eight fours.

Parry was unbeaten on 91 from 146 deliveries at the close but the home side eased to an eight-wicket win.

Guy Haines hit 111 off 110 balls, including 18 fours, and shared 170 for the second wicket with Adithya Ashok, who was unbeaten on 79 from 69 balls at the close having hit four sixes and six fours.