BILLERICAY beat Horndon-on-the-Hill to record their sixth win of an impressive season, despite celebrating a team-mate’s wedding the night before.

Dave Houghton’s side won the toss and put Horndon into bat, and it proved a wise decision.

Billericay got wicket after wicket, to ensure Horndon were all out for only 133 after 42 overs, and the visitors surpassed the total for the loss of only three wickets to remain third in the table and stay hot on the heels of Fives & Heronians and Belhus.

And captain Houghton said it was a great win, considering there were some very tired players in the team after Gary Hynes’ wedding celebrations and ahead of a huge clash nxt weekend.

“It was important to get a win after last week’s rain off and leading into the match against Belhus this Saturday.

“We bowled really well and didn’t give them much of a chance to get going in their innings. We had a team mate’s wedding on Friday night as well which presented another slightly different challenge but everyone was on it from ball one.

“We’ve only lost the one game so far this season but I still think our best is yet to come.”

Leigh-on-Sea were also winners, although it was a close run contest against Gidea Park & Romford.

Only 13 runs separated the sides at the end of the match, with knocks from Al Lawrence (54), Jon Edwards (57) and Kevin Sargent (64) proving decisive.

However, eight of the other nine batsmen failed to get into double figures to see Leigh close on 261-9 in 50 overs.

And Leigh got off to a great start in reply, dismissing Matthew Tarr for a second ball duck. But George Rogers (70), Jamal Francis (32) and Sam Hewitt (47) brought Gidea Park to within touching distance.

But the dismissal of Phil Ayres (26) with nine balls remaining secured a dramatic win, after Harry Slack had brilliantly run out Harry Thompson.

Daniel Cocking (3-38) and Alex Camp (3-43) were the pick of the bowlers.

Wickford had an afternoon to forget against league leaders Belhus, as they were comfortably beaten by 10 wickets despite winning the toss.

Dean Etchells led the side in the absence of John Pratt but with three of the opening five batsmen failing to score more than one run it looked an uphill battle.

Sam Oakes (24) was the only man to hit more than 15, with Wickford all out for 116 with almost 14 overs to spare.

Connor Day’s 4-29 and Danny Norris’ 4-32 put Belhus in a commanding position.

And formidable opening pair Danny and Joe Joyce went about reaching the target.

Danny (49) and Joe (62) eased Belhus over the line in only 16 overs.

Stanford-le-Hope were well beaten by Harlow Town in a battle at the bottom of the division.

Harlow won by 119 runs, having made 313-8 after they were put in by Stanford.

Ramya Upadhay’s terrific 102 was the difference between the two, with a half century from Charlie Coleman (57) also influential.

Dylan Eginton (2-70) and Matthew Higgins (2-59) took a brace of wickets each in vain.

Stanford’s top order added runs but failed to capitalise on good starts, with Matthew Page’s 30 the best they could manage.

They were skittled for 194 with more than 12 overs remaining.