Buckhurst Hill 104-9

Stanford 106-4

STANFORD le Hope started their Dukes Essex T20 competition with a six-wicket success over 10-man Buckhurst Hill.

The visitors elected to bat after winning the toss and were in trouble as Greg Barr claimed the opening three wickets for single figure scores. Josh Peters (37) and captain Jamie Allen (14) got the innings going but once they perished no other batsman got into double figures before Hill ran out of wickets at 104-9 with one delivery remaining.

Barr (3-13) led the attack with Marc Lewis (2-7), Ross Poulton (1-22) and Lee Knight (1-9) also taking wickets. Two run outs accounted for the other Hill batsmen.

The Stanford openers all went very cheaply as the hosts struggled to make an impact.

But Kevin Smith (36) steadied the ship and skipper Knight (38no) and Poulton (12no) rattled off the remaining runs as Stanford won with 106-4 in 18.2 overs, with three Buckhurst Hill bowlers taking a wicket each.