CRICKET: THURROCK continued their fine start to the season with a hard-fought win in wet conditions over High Roding, writes Bill West.

The hosts batted first and posted a decent score of 184, thanks mainly to an impressive innings by Daniel Laird, who finished on 88 not out from a total of 107 deliveries.

The all-rounder scored around the park and carried Thurrock’s innings when the team really needed it. Laird was stranded short of a century as he ran out of partners down the batting order.

The visitors made a good start in their run chase with an opening partnership of 64. But with the rain forcing the players off consistently, High Roding’s batsmen struggled to regain their concentration.

After the first wicket fell, High Roding lost wickets at regular intervals as some excellent bowling from Rob Neal (6-32) and Clarke Wren (2-16) ripped through their batting line-up in the fading light to win by 24 runs.

Thurrock’s one hundred per cent start to the season means they are second in the Premier Division, a point behind Aythorpe Roding.