BELHUS emerged from a thrilling match against Gidea Park & Romford as they ran out nine-run winners in a battle of the top two.

It was a crunch match at the top of Shepherd Neame Division Two and it was the hosts who extended their advantage at the top.

Brothers Danny and Joe Joyce opened the batting for the hosts and these two put on 53 for the first wicket.

The partnership was ended when Joe was caught by Steve Brant off former West Indian international Shawn Findlay (3-31) for 26, a score which put Joe’s runs beyond the 1,000 mark for the season.

Skipper Danny remained and built a second wicket partnership of 73 with Ryan Wells. But two run out dismissals within four runs stunted the home scoring as fielding by Sam Hewitt and Jamal Francis ended the innings of the second wicket pair. Wells had made 36 and Danny Joyce 44; both struck seven boundaries. Martin Guilbert hit 43 which included five boundaries, including the only six hit of the match. Beyond the first four, no other Belhus batsman reached double figures as Zisan Abedin picked up 3-40 from ten overs.

Gidea Park & Romford were rocking at 127-7, as Findlay was bowled by Jack Martin-Hussey for 20. The overseas star may have scored 59 not out against Australia in 2008 but clearly the young Belhus all-rounder was a different proposition as he finished with 3-40 from seven overs. George Rogers held the innings together with 44 not out from the middle order. He shared a 28-run final wicket partnership with Steve Brant (12), who was caught behind by Michael Fogg off the bowling of Gary Sanderson (3-45) to give Belhus a narrow win.

The seconds were also victorious against the same opposition, making it three wins in a row.

Winning the toss and electing to bat at the Gidea Park sports ground, the visitors romped to 302 from 45 overs, with Mark Sansom scoring 68 and Nick Marns cashing in with 61.

And Gidea Park could only reach 275 in their innings.

The following day, the Belhus two’s lost by seven wickets at home to Crusaders, though Adam Dudmish scored his maiden half-century.

Jack Day and Sam Hall were the mainstays of the Belhus thirds’ innings at the John Burrows ground on Saturday.

Day was dismissed two runs short of the half-century mark while Hall struck 40. Offering solid support were Paul Hall, Jack Plane and Michael Randall with 17, 24 and 19 respectively.

Hadleigh’s opening bowler Ben Rossiter impressed by picking up five wickets for 39 runs from 11 overs (two maidens) while Matthew Pointer and Alfie Richer bagged two wickets apiece.

Not for the first time this season, Alan Maidment was a difficult proposition for the hosts with 4-28 from 10 overs, three of which were maidens.

Rory Blackaby top scored for Hadleigh with 37, while David Harries made 20 and Rossiter completed a fine all-round performance by scoring 22. No other home batsman reached double figures as spin bowler Aidan Mason caused havoc with 3-7 from only six overs (two maidens).

Meanwhile, the Belhus fourth XI struggled at South Ockendon recreation ground. Chasing Gidea Park and Romford’s 175-4, the Belhus last pair held on for the draw at 76 for the loss of nine wickets.