Chesterfords came out on top in their Herts & Essex League Division Two clash at Dunmow seconds on Saturday, but were pushed all the way by their local rivals. Chesterfords won the toss on a hard flat batting wicket and decided to make the most of the fav

Chesterfords came out on top in their Herts & Essex League Division Two clash at Dunmow seconds on Saturday, but were pushed all the way by their local rivals.

Chesterfords won the toss on a hard flat batting wicket and decided to make the most of the favourable conditions by asking Dunmow to take the field.

Dunmow's bowlers got off to a good start by claiming three early wickets for just 28 runs, with the recalled Jan Gilbert generating good pace.

A revival in the middle order from Wazz Mughal (49) and 58 from Steve Squares, moved the visitors on. Mughal was eventually stopped by Anu Weerasing, and this brought James Pullen to the crease who made 34 before he was caught.

Chesterfords were looking at a good total until the introduction of leg spinner Andy Strong. He cleaned up the tail claiming 4-23 as Chesterfords were dismissed for 207 in the 42nd over.

In reply Dunmow got off to an excellent start with Gypps and the recalled Andy Takle putting on a solid 61 for the first wicket. The season-long problem of losing wickets in clutches returned however and by the 23rd over Dunmow were 87-5.

However, there was real evidence of some fighting spirit as the tail started to wag. Steve Hamlin added 15 in support of Mark Barnes and Matt Gibson hit a brisk 26 before holing out to deep square leg. This got Dunmow close, but not close enough and when Gilbert was bowled for nought, Dunmow were all out for 188 in the 43rd over.

Pullen bowled with intelligence to pick up 2-31 runs from his 10 overs and Tom Thake finished with figures of 2-28 from his 10 overs.

Captain James Lipscombe who has been unavailable for long periods of the season, took a wicket with his first ball, and from his seven overs managed to return figures of 3-31

Squares finished with figures of 2-15, Phillips took 1-19, while Mughal took 1-42 from 10 overs.

Thaxted put in an impressive performance to defeat Braughing in the Herts & Essex Cricket League on Saturday.

Thaxted ripped into the heart of the Braughing batting after winning the toss. Charlie Burrett could do no wrong and returned figures of 4-24 off his 10 overs. He was ably supported by Miles Dixon and Aaron Gent who took 4-26 and Braughing were skittled out for 124 runs.

In reply, Gent and John

Grinham (18), got the visitors off to a splendid start with Grinham being caught after a 48 partnership.

Gent who went on to score 68 steadied the ship and with captain Pete Leach (20 no), saw Thaxted through to victory with the loss of just three wickets.

This win puts Thaxted in second place and the victory was even more impressive as they were missing several key players.

Clavering's Paul Miller starred with the bat as his side came out on top at Thaxted on Sunday.

Thaxted batted first and opener Matt Stewart took full advantage of a good pitch. He survived a tricky opening spell from Ben Warren to put the rest of the Clavering attack to the sword.

His partnership with Leach saw the ball being dispatched all around the ground with Bessant getting some rough treatment from the young Thaxted batsmen.

It took a good comeback spell from Jamie Warren, who finished with four wickets, to slow the Thaxted assault to 266 with Stewart carrying his bat for a well crafted 114 not out.

Miller came to the wicket at a very early stage and his second wicket partnership with opener Michael Leek (73), amounted to 186.

Miller went on to reach 151 not out, including 13 fours and winning the match with his 11th six of his innings with seven balls remaining, as Clavering reached 270-4 off 38.1 overs.

Clavering hosts Wendens Ambo on Sunday.