Hornchurch defeated Billericay by 47 runs in the Essex League Division Two on Saturday but for a certain amount of time captain Roy Smith was worried his team may suffer a rare loss.

Billericay’s Paul Walter was seeing the ball excellently and before he departed for 89 off 65 balls with the hosts 195-8, Smith was nervous.

A change of ends for Chamikara Mudalige (4-43) provided decisive, Smith said: “It was a superb win and we got pushed all the way by Billericay.

“Sometimes you can’t judge by the scorecard but there was a time when I was really worried.

“Paul was seeing it like a football. He was smashing four’s and sixes and I was trying all of my options but none were working.

“But we changed Chamikara’s end and we got Paul straight away and it was fine after that, none of their other batsmen really did much, it was just when he was in.”

“Chamikara is the leading wicket taker in the league and he is different class. I know what he can do and he adds a little bit of class and experience.

“Taqi Abbas (2-41) was good as well and has been an unsung hero for us this season.”

In the end, Mudalige and Abbas ensured Hornchurch’s total of 253-8 from their 50 overs was too much for Billericay and once again most of the damage was done by Smith and partner in crime Chris Sains.

The Hornchurch captain hit 67 and Sains top scored with 68, but Smith praised openers Paul Murray Junior (30) and Jamie Sorrell (29) for seeing off the new ball.

“Me and Chris like batting together, we have known each other for years and we just seem to click,” Smith said.

“What one does the other does differently, so if he is smashing it I will just bat around him and it works.

“Billericay have the best opening attack in the league and Paul and Jamie batted for about 20 overs, they were a bit slow at first but they set it up brilliantly for the middle order to come in.”