STANFORD-le-Hope crashed to a 63-run defeat at Woodford Green as they suffered a batting collapse on a wet wicket.

Shehan Perera was the bowling star for Stanford as captain Matthew Page’s decision to put the hosts into bat was vindicated.

Perera took 6-29 from an eight-over spell that featured a hat-trick and one maiden, while Greg Barr’s 7.2 overs returned a yield of 3-24.

Things started badly for West Essex when opener Hamaad Sayyed went for a duck, run out by Matthew Higgins.

But fellow opener Hussnain Kazmi (78) anchored the innings for Woodford Green until he became Perera’s first victim.

Cooper Bingham (37) also offered resistance but Perera and Barr then ripped the heart out of the batting line up as all the remaining wickets went for single figures, with the exception of Javaad Hussain’s unbeaten 11.

Woodford Green were bowled out for 152 in 36.2 overs, with four of Perera’s victims and one of Barr’s going for ducks. But if Stanford thought they were on course for a win, the Woodford Green attack had other plans.

Amrit Ryatt (4-18), Kazmi (3-20), Javaad Hussain (2-24) and Rishabh Mehan (1-9) ensured Stanford were all back in the pavilion for 89 in 28.4 overs.

Michael Gray, Martin Leslie, Thomas Willats and Jordan Dodd went for the addition of 16 runs, before Perera added 10 before going lbw.

Three more wickets fell for the addition of five runs and then Duncan Page contributed 11 runs.

Matthew Page was undefeated on 21 but the game was up when Higgins went for a duck.

“It was very disappointing as the bowlers did their job again,” said Page.

“They got twice as many runs as they should have but we missed some chances in the field. However, Shehan bowled really well and got a very good hat-trick.

“It started raining at the end of their innings and it affected us when we batted because the pitch was wet and we couldn’t get boundaries.

“We had gone in happy at tea but it just didn’t come together for us, but it’s just one of those things.”