HADLEIGH & Thundersley suffered a 135 run defeat to Hornchurch in the Essex League Premier Division.

Hornchurch opted to bat first after winning the toss and scored 260/8.

Louis Poynter (3/51), Nick Gibb (2/27) and Sam Handley (2/53) all took wickets before Hadleigh were dismissed for 125 in reply.

Adam Dobson top scored with 36 but it was not enough to prevent another defeat for Hadleigh who remain second from bottom in the table, 12 points from safety.

In Division One, promotion pushing Billericay beat bottom of the table Belhus by seven wickets.

Belhus were bowled out for 152 with Joe Carson (3/18) and Arjun Bhardwaj (3/29) the pick of Billericay’s bowlers.

In reply, Billericay made it home for the loss of just three wickets with in-form Grant Roelofsen scoring 107 not out.

Billericay remain second in the table, 10 points clear of third placed Upminster.

In Division Two, table-topping Old Southendian & Southchurch secured an important 128 run win against third placed Shenfield.

Southendian chose to bat first and scored 253/7 with Hafiz Yawer Afzal hitting an impressive 111.

Matthew Darvill added 54 before Shenfield were dismissed for 125.

Ahsan Yousaf did most of the damage with the ball for Southendian, taking 7/40 while Hardik Varma took 3/34.

The win put Old Southendian 42 points clear of Shenfield.

Elsewhere, fifth placed Westcliff suffered an 88 run defeat to Goresbrook.

Goresbrook chose to bat first after winning the toss and scored 258.

Hammad Ul Hassan (5/83) and Joe Robbins (4/51) both bowled well before Westcliff were bowled out for 170.

Robbins top scored with 59 while Ul Hassan added 38.

In Division Three, third placed Leigh on Sea beat bottom of the table Benfleet by 58 runs.

Leigh were put into bat after losing the toss and scored 231.

Sevriano Cupido led the way with 67 while Stuart Elliott added 60 not out.

Charlie Huntley (5/57) was the best of Benfleet’s bowlers before they were dismissed for 173.

Opener Gavin Blowes top scored with 84 while Oliver Kersley hit 33.

James Spencer (5/13) was impressive with the ball along with Cupido (3/33) to see Leigh home.

Also in Division Three, eighth placed Wickford lost by four wickets against Bentley.

Wickford scored 209/9 with Jack Stead hitting 57 and Frankie Mckenna 44 before Bentley made it home for the loss of six wickets.

In Division Four, Southend & EMT beat Rainham by seven wickets.

Rainham were bowled out for 237 with Matt Mohan (5/58) the pick of Southend’s bowlers.

Southend then made it home for the loss of three wickets with Aaron Butcher scoring 116 not out and Mohan 66.

Southend are seventh in the table.