BELHUS maintained their position at the top of the Shepherd Neame Essex League division two with another strong performance against Harlow Town on Saturday.

Joe Joyce fell just three runs short of a century and the home total was boosted further by Daniel Dreher's cameo of 47 runs from just 22 deliveries. Good supporting roles were played Liam Wilson (30) and Roy Heffernan (23).

For the visitors, Daniel Farmer and Joe Elston picked up three wickets each.

In a rare occurrence, there was a period during the Harlow Town innings when both batsmen had a runner, with Neil and Jason Gladwin the additional cast members, but they were unable to inspire the team to victory.

Scott Anderson was run out by Wilson for 41, while Farmer struck 30 runs. The Gladwin’s eventually returned to the action as batsmen with both ending the match on 13 not out.

Danny Norris, Dreher and Wilson picked up two wickets to secure a win by 60 runs in the first 50-overs-per-side fixture of the season.

The thirds drew with Basildon & Pitsea thirds in a competitive match at Langdon Hills.

Chris Baker led the way with a fine undefeated 63 while Stuart Morris hit 51 to enable to Belhus to declare in a strong position (236-7) at Langdon Hills recreation ground.

However, Chris Debond responded in kind for the home team with 53 while Phillip Murdoch's 36 provided valuable support to ensure Belhus could not find a way through the Basildon * Pitsea middle order to force a win, closing on 176-5.

Earlier, Jack Plane and Russ Blackburn provided support in the visitors' innings with 36 and 38 respectively, while the Belhus father and son combination of Alan and Billy Maidment claimed two wickets apiece.

The fourths produced a marvellous bowling display as they thrashed Hutton fifths by eight wickets having bowled out the hosts for just 54.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Jack Day excelled, scoring a match-winning 29 not out in difficult conditions to add to his two stumpings earlier in the piece.

In favourable bowling conditions, Rob Long picked up 3-10 from 11 tidy overs which included six maidens, while Amit Gohil bagged three wickets for just nine runs from seven overs).

Home captain John Wilson mopped up the Hutton tail with two wickets for as many runs from only nine deliveries.

The Belhus second and fifths had their matches abandoned due to rain.

The seconds had scored 175-8 in 32 overs at Fives and Heronians, with Wayne Read hitting 46, George Maidment 43 and Charlie Lewis 26.

The fifth team also batted first in their abandoned match and scored 126-3 from 23 overs. Jack Thomas struck 90 runs.