BILLERICAY climbed into the promotion places with a comfortable six-wicket win at Harlow Town.

Having lost the loss, Billericay reduced Harlow to 183-6 in their 46 overs, the match having been reduced from 50 overs apiece after a delayed start, and went about reaching the target.

And Billericay lost only four wickets in doing so, with Paul Martin and Dave Hinnigan (both 26) and Lee Knight (40) providing a good platform for captain Dave Houghton (49 not out) and Ross Poulton (32 not out) seeing them over the line.

Poulton was also the pick of the bowlers earlier in the day (2-18 off 10 overs) picking up from his fine start to the season.

And Houghton said it was a good all-around display.

“It is a handy win,” he said. “Turning up when it’s grey and drizzly, it was important everyone was in the right mindset to play.

“Ross Poulton, Phil Reynolds (1-30) and Andy Smith (0-23) were massive for us, strangling them in the middle overs. We only conceded two boundaries after drinks.

“We had a wake-up call against Fives (& Heronians) where we lost that match and since then we’ve shown a bit more spine with the bat in particular which has been a key difference.

“We also made the cup quarter final yesterday after beating Harold Wood so we have some good momentum.”

Wickford are only 12 points behind their borough rivals after they beat Stanford-le-Hope by 106 runs.

Having won the toss, John Pratt’s team enjoyed a strong start, with Jona Sammut hitting 90 off 67 balls and J Sloane (27 off 20 balls) providing able support.

Charlie Phillippe (36), David Cole (69) and Dan Pryke (28) took Wickford to 313 all out from 46.1 overs.

Stanford reached 58 without loss before Martin Leslie was dismissed for 43. And that was the top score for the visitors, with Matthew Page (33) and Michael Gray (26 not out) also contributing.

Jamie Went’s 4-17 was the best return with the ball.

“It was important to get off to a good start in the limited overs games,” said Pratt.

“It was a great innings by Jona Sammutt and David Cole with good support from Charlie Phillippe.

“Both Jona and Coley scored at well over a run a ball to get us to 313, which is the highest total ever scored by a Wickford first XI.

“We limited Stanford from the start so they were never up with the run rate. All the bowlers did well but Jamie Went’s second spell was impressive, blowing away the Stanford lower order.”

Leigh-on-Sea beat Horndon-on-the-Hill by 112 runs at Chalkwell Park.

Choosing to bat first, things got off to a rocky start when Stuart Elliott went for a duck but Al Lawrence (37), Harry Slack (57) and Mark Sexton (46) ensured Leigh reached 210-8 in their 50 overs.

Connor Price took 4-39 for Horndon while the wickets were shared around for Leigh.

Paddy Groves (3-31) and Iain McDonald (3-25) were the pick of the bowlers.

Belhus climbed to the top of the league with a six-wicket win over previous leaders Fives & Heronians. Two superb knocks from the Joyce brothers took them over the line. Danny Joyce hit 98 while Joe Joyce hit 143 not out.