Big T20 derby in store

Thursday (6pm)

Essex T20

Hornchurch v Upminster

There are sure to be fireworks at Harrow Lodge Park tonight as these two rivals go head-to-head once again.

They met in a SNEL Division One derby at the weekend, with Upminster edging to a one-wicket win to send Hornchurch into the bottom two.

And the winner this evening will book a home quarter-final with Woodford Wells, who strolled to a seven-wicket success at Colchester on Monday.

Saturday

SNEL Premier Division

Chelmsford v Ardleigh Green

It’s top versus bottom at Chelmer Park this weekend as new leaders Chelmsford host basement boys Green.

Chris Cook’s strugglers slumped to defeat against Ilford last weekend, having opened their account with a win against Woodford Wells a week earlier.

They are 41 points adrift of safety as the season approaches its midway point and have work to do to climb the table.

Division 1

Hornchurch v Southend

Hornchurch need to stop the rot, fast.

Chris Sains saw his side slip to a fifth successive defeat in their derby meeting at Upminster last weekend and they now find themselves in the bottom two.

There is no shortage of talent among their ranks, but they need to put a run of results together to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle in the second half of the season.

Orsett v Upminster

Ollie Peck’s Upminster kept pace with their promotion rivals with derby success over Hornchurch last weekend.

Vice-captain John Curtis bowled throughout the visitors innings to pick up five wickets, before James Aggio-Brewe’s half-century rescued Upminster from a poor start in reply.

Peck weighed in with vital runs as the chase grew tense before Upminster’s last-wicket pair took them over the finish line.

Division 2

Gidea Park & Romford v Westcliff

Park were left in a spin as they slipped to defeat at Old Southendian last weekend.

And captain Chris Collier will hope his men can bounce back as they host another seaside outfit at Gallows Corner.

Another defeat could leave Park with a lot to do to get their promotion campaign back on track.

Harold Wood v Stanford

Wood maintained their hold on second place with victory at Belhus last weekend.

Half-centuries from Peter Clarke and Colin Sher saw them reach their target of 224 with six wickets, but not much time, to spare.

And they will have been further boosted by their midweek success at Ilford in the Essex T20 competition.

Shahbaz Khan blasted an unbeaten 88 in a stunning stand with Raihan Hussain (57 not out) as Wood piled up 158-2 at Valentines Park.

Waqas Shafique (3-16) and Sam Klein (2-16) kept Ilford’s chase in check to set up a home quarter-final with Wanstead or Buckhurst Hill, who meet tonight.