After a close derby in the first week of the season, Dunmow sought to build on the positives in their first home league game.

Losing the toss and being inserted on a wicket that had been covered but was still damp, the home side thought 180 would be a decent target, especially given the slow outfield. Luke Swanston and Josh Down made an excellent start, putting on 59 for the first wicket before Swasnton fell for 18.

Down (53), Ollie Rooney (20) and Luke Matthews (27) all made useful runs as every batsmen made double figures. With 30 added in the last 4 overs by Matt Gibson (19*) and Josh Rix (11*) and a final total of 192-6 posted, Dunmow were the happier side at tea. Charlie Douglas-Hughes was the pick of the Halstead bowlers with figures of 11-1-44-4.

Dunmow made an excellent start to the defence of their total when former Dunmow player Graham Wickes was trapped LBW by Matt Gibson for 1. Douglas-Hughes and Cook then built what was to transpire as the only meaningful partnership of the Halstead innings as they moved the score to 42, although Dunmow contributed to this by dropping Cook twice. Once Cook had also been claimed by Gibson, the Halstead resistance fell away, wickets falling regularly and all remaining catches being held. Gibson finished with figures of 11-3-23-4, with Josh Down claiming two wickets (2-16), PWReid (1-19), Baz Sewell (2-0) and Steve Hamlin (1-8) wrapping up an excellent victory for the home side.

Next week, Dunmow 1st XI travel to Kelvedon & Feering, 1pm start, while the 2nd XI get their Herts and Essex League Division 2 campaign started with a home match against Cloghams.