CRICKET: Hadleigh & Thundersley returned to winning ways with a four wicket victory at Loughton.

The hosts batted first in the Essex League Premier Division clash and were bowled out for 241.

Loughton slumped to 134/7 before putting on 92 for the eighth wicket on their way to setting a testing target.

Hadleigh skipper Sam Handley (5/71) and Nick Gibb (4/42) were the pick of the bowlers before opener Jack Wagstaff took centre stage with the bat.

Wasgstaff scored a brilliant 125 while Oliver Smith added an important 46 not out to guide Hadleigh to victory.

Hadleigh remain ninth in the table but are now just two points behind Buckhurst Hill who sit immediately above them in the standings.

In Division One, Billericay moved second after an eight wicket win at Epping.

Epping were put into bat after losing the toss and scored 247/7.

Former Essex player Mervyn Westfield led the way with 106 before being bowled by Robert Rayner who took three wickets for 41 runs.

In reply, Billericay reached the required total for the loss of just two wickets with opener Grant Roelofsen scoring 166 not out, Matthew Bell also added an important 69 to ensure the victory.

In Division Two, Old Southendian & Southchurch went second after a 64 run win at Old Brentwoods.

Old Southendian opted to bat first and scored 172/8.

Ahsan Yousaf top scored with 54 while Hemanth Kumar Venkatakrishma added 33 and Callum Powrie 31 not out.

Bottom of the table Old Brentwoods were then dismissed for 108 with Yousaf taking 3/22.

Fourth placed Westcliff were also triumphant as they beat third placed Oakfield Parkonians by five wickets.

Parkonians were put into bat after losing the toss and were bowled out for 137.

Priyamal Perera top scored with 57 before Westcliff made it home for the loss of five wickets with Hammad Ul Hassan hitting 59 not out.

In Division Three, second from bottom Benfleet lost by 119 runs to Bentley at Woodside Park.

Bentley scored 181 in their innings with Callum Wheeler (5/55) the best of Benfleet’s bowlers before the hosts were bowled out for just 62.

Opener Laurence Shearcroft top scored with 21.

In Division Four, Southend & EMT suffered a six wicket defeat at Neo.

Southend scored 110 all out after opting to bat first.

Jazil Imran led the way with 35 before the hosts reached the winning total for the loss of four wickets.

Southend are now seventh in the standings.