Woodford Wells come up short against Southend

Billericay got the better of high-flying Orsett to give their survival hopes a boost in Essex League Division One.

Captain David Houghton chose to bat after winning the toss and put on 79 for the second wicket with David Hinnigan (37), after saw Paul Martin had fallen cheaply.

Houghton (37) was dismissed soon after to leave Billericay 85-3, with Ross Poulton following after the home side reached three figures.

Mark Harmer (26) chipped in, before Chris Tait and Lee Knight (21) put on 55 for the sixth wicket.

Tait eventually top scored with 44 from 63 balls, after hitting four fours, as Billericay closed on 209-8 and Orsett collapsed to 11-5 and then 33-6 in reply.

Robert Rayner (2-21) and Adam Marchant (4-32) did the early damage with the ball, before Gary Hynes (2-25) and Poulton (2-32) got in on the act to dismiss Orsett for 147.

*****

Woodford Wells came up well short against Southend, who moved into second place as a result of their 49-run success at Monkhams Lane.

The visitors chose to bat first and saw Phil Gray (81) play the anchor innings as they reached 253.

Jonathan Gaffney (3-40) and George Ellis (3-47) shared the bowling honours for Wells, with Rory Ellison (2-39) nabbing a brace.

But the home side saw the dangerous Michael Arblaster dismissed for a duck in reply and, although Tanveer Shah made 41, they were dismissed for 204 in the penultimate over.

Nabel Shaikh (26) and Ellison (28) made runs down the order for the hosts, but it was little consolation.