HADLEIGH & Thundersley suffered a nine wicket defeat at Brentwood in the Essex League Premier Division.

After opting to bat first Hadleigh scored 243/8 with opener Jack Wagstaff leading the way with 87 while Nick Gibb added 34 and Ruben Vapiwala 32.

However, Brentwood reached the required total for the loss of just one wicket to leave Hadleigh second from bottom in the standings, 17 points from safety.

In Division One, second placed Billericay continued their push for promotion with a convincing nine wicket win at home to Orsett & Thurrock.

Orsett hit 205/9 after winning the toss and choosing to bat.

Ross Poulton (5/45) and Arjun Bhardwaj (3/64) were the pick of Billericay’s bowlers before Grant Roelofsen again took centre stage with the bat.

Roelofsen hit a brilliant 110 not out while Matthew Bell scored 72 not out to see Billericay home.

In Division Two, table-topping Old Southendian & Southchurch suffered a 30 run defeat at title rivals Aztecs.

Second placed Aztecs opted to bat after winning the toss and scored 203/9.

Matthew Austin (3/34) and Ahsan Yousaf (3/58) did most damage with the ball for Old Southendian before they were dismissed for 173 in reply.

Skipper Max Craddock top scored with 43 while Hardik Varma added 42 but it was not enough to prevent defeat and Southendian are now just 11 points ahead of Aztecs.

However, it was a good day for fifth placed Westcliff who beat Woodford Green by 22 runs.

Westcliff scored 264/7 after deciding to bat first.

Charlie Lockhart hit 71, skipper Joe Robbins 65 and Carl Lees 56 not out before Woodford Green were dismissed for 242.

Hammad Ul Hassan (4/80) and Adnan Khan (3/51) both bowled well to see Westcliff home.

In Division Three, third placed Leigh on Sea suffered a five wicket defeat at West Essex who sit immediately below them in the standings.

Leigh were bowled out for just 65 with Toby Turner top scoring with 23 before West Essex made it home for the loss of five wickets.

Seventh placed Wickford were also beaten as they lost by nine wickets to Barking at the Patmore Memorial Sports Ground.

Westcliff were dismissed for 131 with Tom Matthew, who batted at number nine, leading the way with 34.

In reply, second from bottom Barking reached the required total for the loss of one wicket.

Benfleet now sit bottom of the table after drawing with second placed Stanford le Hope.

Stanford scored 254/4 before Benfleet finished on 213/9 with Luke Whitbourn scoring 59 and David Jarrett 56.

In Division Four, Southend & EMT suffered a one wicket defeat to Roding Valley.

Southend scored 214/6 with Joe Sibbons hitting 63 not out before the visitors passed the winning total for the loss of nine wickets.