A seven-wicket haul from Matt Gibson helped Dunmow impose a comprehensive defeat on promotion hopefuls Clacton on Saturday.

The sixth win of the season moves Dunmow into the top half of the table.

Clacton won the toss and chose to bat.

Dunmow bowlers Steve Hamlin and Gibson though claimed regular wickets.

To accommodate the returning Baz Sewell, Gibson changed ends and continued the success he had had from the other end with only Sheikh (64) and Pitts (31) mustering double figures, before Sheikh gave his wicket away, holing out to a Luke Swanston catch.

Gibson completed his spell with a double wicket maiden to finish with figures of 7-67, Hamlin took 2-34 and Sewell 1-30 as Clacton fell for 133.

Dunmow openers Nav Ali and Swanston made a solid start moving the score to 46 before Ali fell to the last ball before tea for 14.

The period after tea saw Dunmow becalmed, scoring only 11 runs in 10 overs and lost Swanston for 24.

Joe Gallant (12) and Mark Rosewell (two) also fell to leave Dunmow on 62-4.

Skipper Paul Reid (26 not out) and Nick Kesingland (42 not out) scored 75 from 9.3 overs and alleviating all the doubts of their watching team mates.

The game saw a terrific piece of sportsmanship from Clacton fielder Pitts who held Kesingland on the boundary but touched the line, he signalled six when Kesingland was on three.

On Saturday Dunmow host fourth-placed Ipswich at St Edmunds Lane.