Upminster, Hornchurch and Wanstead also win in Dukes Essex T20

Raihan Hussain top-scored with a magnificent 141 as Harold Wood defeated Ardleigh Green by seven wickets in their Dukes Essex T20 derby last night.

Visitors Green won the toss and chose to bat first, but Hussain (2-26) impressed with ball in hand also, dismissing opener Luke Edwards (six) in the second over before bowling Sulamen Mahmood (11).

Stand-in skipper Paul Hurworth helped Green gather some momentum, top-scoring with 68 before being bowled out by Burhan Mahmood after just under an hour at the crease.

In contrasting fashion, his replacement Ali Pasha was on the field for just two minutes before being bowled without scoring by 15-year old Joe Stallibrass, but Jack Taylor (56) and Ashan Freed (12) helped the visitors build a respectable total of 184-4.

However, it wasn’t enough as Hussain chased down Green’s innings almost single-handedly.

Hussain and Mahmood (15) began the run chase and put on 38 before the latter was dismissed in the fifth over.

Number three Abdul Rehman hit 24 off 25 balls before being caught, but it proved to be irrelevant as Wood continued to chase down Green’s innings with Hussain on strike.

The opener spent over an hour at the crease, in which time he smashed eight sixes and 13 fours from just 62 balls, before being caught by Taylor in the 17th over for a total of superb 141.

Kristen Ali (nine) and captain Tom Clarke (one) brought Wood home with 13 balls to spare for their first first win of the tournament. They play their second T20 fixture next Wednesday when they host Fives & Heronians.

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Upminster made it three wins out of three in Group G with an eight-wicket success over Hadleigh.

Arshad Ali (2-14) and John Curtis (2-32) nabbed braces as the visitors made 159-5, thanks largely to Oliver Smith (84).

Upminster lost Farid Butt and Ali cheaply, as in their previous match, but Shahbaz Butt maintained his excellent form in the shorter game, hitting four sixes and nine fours to finish unbeaten on 90 from 62 balls.

Billy Gordon struck seven boundaries to finish 48 not out from 37 deliveries as Upminster reached their target with five balls to spare.

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Hornchurch celebrated Group E victory over Ilford at Valentines Park.

Paul Murray (32), Ronnie Saunders (27) and Chamikara Mudalige (23) led the way in their 142-8, as Haaris Ayub (2-12), Malike Rehman (2024) and Shahzad Hafeez (2-31) nabbed braces for the hosts.

And Mudalige (4-17) proved the pick of the Hornchurch bowling as Ilford were dismissed for 106 in 18 overs in reply.

Chris James (2-23) and captain Roy Smith (2-18) gave good support, with Chris Sains and Marc Whitlock taking a wicket apiece as Irfan Sahar (23) top scored for the home side.

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Wanstead were the biggest winners of the night, beating Belhus by 108 runs at Overton Drive.

Jonathan Das clubbed 80 as the home side piled up 214-3, with Joe Ellis-Grewal (66 not out) and Arfan Akram (54) also hitting half-centuries.

Belhus were dismissed inside 18 overs, with Ellis-Grewal (2-8), Zain Shahzad (2-19), Jack Lord (2-20), Azhar Janjua and Saurav Prabhakar all having success with the ball for Wanstead.