Hornchurch took over at the top of the Shepherd Neame Essex League Premier Division table with an emphatic win at Hadleigh.

Half-centuries from captain Billy Gordon, Michael Bones and Muhammad Irfan helped the visitors pile up 298-6 from their 50 overs, before Gordon and Irfan took three wickets apiece in a good all-round display from the bowling attack to dismiss the hosts for just 120.

And with Wanstead falling to a five-wicket defeat at Billericay, and taking just two bonus points, Hornchurch leapfrogged their rivals into pole position.

Gordon won the toss and chose to bat first, with Frankie Jacobs (25) and Ronnie Saunders (26) putting on 52 for the first wicket, only to fall in quick succession.

Gordon added 127 for the third wicket with Bones, who hit two sixes and nine fours in his 61 off 62 balls.

Gordon struck 10 fours in his 57 from 74 deliveries, before Roy Smith put on 77 for the sixth wicket with Irfan, who clubbed six sixes and two fours to reach 57 off just 33 balls.

Zeeshan Khan (22 not out) played a late cameo as Smith finished unbeaten on 27 as Hornchurch almost reached the 300-run mark

Hadleigh were soon in trouble as Gordon removed both openers and Mehad Khan struck at the other end to reduce them to 8-3.

Gordon (3-11) grabbed another wicket with the score on 31, then saw Irfan and Monty Panesar combine as three wickets fell for just two runs to leave the hosts 57-7.

Irfan (3-30) struck again with the score on 91, before Marc Whitlock (2-32) claimed the final two wickets to fall to seal a 178-run victory that leaves Hornchurch two points clear at the summit.