Shenfield claimed a much-needed win over Ilford in the Shepherd Neame Essex League Premier Division.

Captain Jack Kliber chose to bat after winning the toss and saw Jack Potticary (25) put on 60 for the first wicket with Arshad Alii, before Shane Snater made the breakthrough for Ilford.

Ali hit three sixes and six fours in his 45 off 25 balls, before falling to Kalpesh Chandracant (2-30), who dismissed Alan Jones cheaply.

Harsh Kumar (2-21) and Theeban Tavarasa got in on the act to reduce the hosts to 110-5, before Kliber fell for 23 with the total on 129.

Ollie Ekers hung around for 71 balls to score 28, before Essex staffer Aaron Beard marshalled the tail with a superb half-century.

Beard hit three sixes and eight fours to score 70 off just 60 balls, putting on 43 for the last wicket with last man Charlie Haddon, who faced just one ball, as Shenfield were dismissed for 240 in the 48th over.

Snatter (3-55) finished as the pick of Ilford’s bowling, before Mohammad Ahktar dominated the early stages of their reply.

Haddon, Ali and Mitchell Edwards took a wicket apiece to leave Ilford 95-3, before Haaris Ayub (32) put on 72 with Ahktar, who was fifth man out – dismissed by Ali – with the total on 168 after hitting six sixes and 11 fours in his 111 from 103 balls.

Edwards (3-44) struck twice more to make it 173-7, before Mohammed Malik put on 61 with Snater (30), but both fell in quick succession to Haddon (3-27) as Ilford came up agonisingly short on 236-9.