Another mixed weekend of results

7:18pm Wednesday 23rd July 2008

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It was yet again another mixed weekend for Billericay Cricket Club's sides.

The 1st XI had another comprehensive away win and the 3rd XI, with a flurry of late wickets, secured another home victory.

The 2nd XI, though, were well beaten at home whilst the 4th XI held out for another draw in their away game.

The 1sts and 2nds maintain their top positions in their respective leagues, with the 3rds retaining second position.

Shepherd Neame Essex League Division 3 Epping I 148 all out Billericay I 150-5 Billericay won by 5 wickets - Billericay 18 points; Epping 4 points At Epping, Billericay won the toss and invited Epping to bat on what was a very poor surface. This was reflected in Epping's collapse to 49-4.

Despite a middle-order fight-back, the Epping batting provided little resistance to the Billericay attack in which Gary Hynes (4-40), Adam Marchant (3-25) and Greg Hammond (3-58) were the main aggressors.

A final total of 148 runs, Billericay reckoned, was well within the team's range.

So it proved, despite the visitors losing Martin Guilbert cheaply and captain Stewart Rutland for a duck.

Paul Southgate (57) and Nathan Batson (42) provided the main runs with Mike Smith (10 not out), at the end, seeing Billericay home to another well-merited victory.

This sees the 1st XI maintain their position at the top of the league with a lead of 12 points, having accumulated seven wins and only one loss. Their one defeat was against Buckhurst Hill, who remain second in the league, 17 points clear of third place.

Shepherd Neame Essex League Division 3 Billericay II 171-8 Epping II 172-2 Epping won by 8 wickets - Epping 18 points; Billericay 4 points Billericay won the toss and chose to chase in blustery conditions at the Toby Howe Cricket Ground.

Openers Alan Davies (29) and Lloyd Scott (17) got Billericay off to a solid start, putting on 60 for the first wicket, but then four wickets fell for just ten runs to put the home side on the back foot.

Of the middle order, only Andy Smith (24) made any real contribution.

A total in the low 100s seemed likely - until an excellent unbroken eighth-wicket stand of nearly 50 between Mark Mayhook (36 not out) and Paul Walter (10 not out), saw Billericay approach a respectable score.

In reply, Epping got off to a rapid start, punishing some wayward bowling. Opener D Twitchett (95*) saw the away team through to the victory, with the loss of only two wickets, in 33 overs.

This weekend, Billericay 1st XI entertain Benfleet at the Toby Howe Cricket Ground, whilst the 2nd XI travel to Orsett.

The 3rd XI visit their Benfleet counterparts whilst the 4th XI host Benfleet 4ths, again at the Toby Howe Cricket Ground.

All matches start at 1pm.