Essex League: Mixed fortunes for rivals in cup quests

But Hornchurch booked a place in the semi-finals of the Conference Cup with victory over Blackheath.

Herons captain Joe Ellis-Grewal put the Kent Premier League side into bat at Overton Drive and saw Zain Shahzad (2-15) and Kishen Velani (2-19) reduce them to 31-4.

Yuvraj Odedra and Eshun Kally got in on the act to leave the visitors 88-6, before a decisive 73-run stand between opener Aiden Griggs and Ahemd Jamal.

Griggs made 81 from 112 balls before being stumped by Jonathan Das off the bowling of Ellis-Grewal (2-33), who struck again as Bexley closed on 175-9. 

But Wanstead lost Tom Simmons to a first-ball duck and Odedra to the seventh ball of their reply to find themselves 3-2, with Haaris Usman and Velani (20) back in the pavilion with only 45 on the board.

Ali Zeb (34) and Nabeel Aziz looked to get the hosts back on track with a 69-run stand, but Wanstead collapsed from 114-4 to 125 all out as Jamal finished with 4-27.

Aziz was left unbeaten on 42 as Herons bowed out, but they remain in the hunt for both the Dukes Essex League Cup and ECB National T20 title and head to Basingstoke & North Hants for the Regional final of the latter competition on August 27.

Hornchurch, last year’s National T20 champions, kept their hopes of a treble alive at Harrow Lodge Park.

The Hamro Foundation Essex League Premier Division leaders and League Cup semi-finalists saw Blackheath choose to bat but lose former Hornchurch player Jas Bassan, caught by Gavin Griffiths off Billy Gordon, cheaply.

Jalpesh Vijay and Adeel Malik also had success to leave them 63-3, before a 64-run stand for the fourth wicket was ended by George Hankins.

Malik (2-24) and Gordon (2-37) had further success as the visitors closed on 208-7 from their 45 overs, before Jivay (26) put on 69 with Paul Murray in quick time.

Murray hit nine fours in his 35-ball 45, before Hankins added 52 from 44 in a 90-run stand with Gordon, hitting five sixes and two fours.

Captain Gordon struck 10 boundaries in his 61 from 68 balls, taking his side to the brink of a five-wicket win which was secured by Luke Edwards in the 35th over.

Hornchurch face Hornsey in the semi-final next weekend, while Walton-on-Thames meet Sandwich Town in the other tie.