Wickford were beaten by Fives & Heronians in a reduced-overs run chase in what was the only match not decimated by the weather this weekend.

John Pratt’s side lost the toss and was put into bat first, although they made a promising start.

Jona Sammut (36), J Sloane (22) and Pratt (37) took Wickford to 106-3 but, aside from David Cole (25), the rest of the middle order fell cheaply.

Sam Oakes (30) contributed a decent knock at the end of the innings to leave Wickford all out for 195 in 47.4 overs.

A break in play meant a two-hour rain delay, with Fives chasing 157 in 40 overs to win, and they did so in just 32 overs.

A superb unbeaten 79 from Gamindu Kanishka did the job, with Dan Pryke (2-11) and Dean Etchells (2-37) taking the wickets.

And Pratt said the team's failure to add a big score cost them.

"Several of our batsmen got into the twenties and thirties but no-one went on to get that big score that you need to put a big total on the scoreboard," he said. "I was very dissapointed with our total but the wicket had been doing a bit throughout our innings so we knew if we bowled well and took our chances we would be in with a shout.

"The rain was the turning point in the game as it meant the outfield was saturated making the ball like a bar of soap so bowling and fielding bcame more difficult.

"Taking nothing away from the Fives batsmen but after the rain delay the game was heavily tipped in the batting sides favour."

Leigh-on-Sea’s match at Billericay was abandoned only six overs into the second innings, with Leigh having set a target of 192 to win.

Leigh were all out in their 46 overs, with Billy King (51) the man doing most of the damage in the middle-order.

Al Lawrence (22), Harry Slack (26) and number 10 batsman Daniel Cocking (23) took the visitors to a respectable total, with Andy Smith the pick of the Billericay bowlers.

Smith (3-20 off 10 overs) was well backed by skipper David Houghton (3-40) and Ross Poulton (2-44).

Billericay’s run chase started terribly, with David Hinnigan (four), Lee Knight (duck) and Christopher Tait (two) all falling very early.

But Leigh were thwarted by the rain, with no play from 4:50pm onwards.

Cocking (2-10) and Paddy Groves (1-13) had the best figures for Leigh, who sit fifth after the result.

League leaders Belhus were another side who were left to rue the rain, after they ran up a terrific 292-9 in their 50 overs against Horndon-on-the-Hill.

But not a ball was bowled in the second innings due to the weather.

Stanford-le-Hope’s match with bottom-of-the-table Ardleigh Green was abandoned due to a downpour in the second-half. Green had been put into bat first by the home team and they racked up a fairly impressive 211 from their 46 overs.

Dylan Eginton was the pick of the bowlers, with three wickets for the loss of only 20 runs, with Kevin Smith (3-45), Adam Knight (2-35) and a wicket apiece for Andrew Love and Shehan Perera.

And Stanford were never able to get close, with only two runs on the board before the umpire called a halt to proceedings.