Joyce hits 1,000 runs for the season (From Thurrock Gazette)

Joyce hits 1,000 runs for the season

7:30am Thursday 30th August 2012 in Sport

JOE Joyce hit a magnificent 105 for Belhus in their Shepherd Neame Essex League division two fixture at North Stifford and in doing so became the first Belhus batsman to reach the 1,000 runs mark for the current season.

Joyce’s century came from 103 balls and included ten fours and two sixes.

Opening batsman Gavin Jefferies hit a fine 75 from 96 deliveries which included ten boundaries as these two put on 167 for the second wicket, while Danny Joyce also chipped in with a half-century with a personal tally of 54.

Belhus finished their innings with a whopping 332 runs on the board at the cost of seven wickets.

Pick of the Leigh bowling was Sean Bell with 2-62 from ten overs. Heavy rain then reduced the Leigh innings to 20 overs and a consequent revised total of 193.

The visitors launched a spirited onslaught against the home attack and they nearly succeeded; falling just 18 runs short. Simon Burch led the way with 85 but Belhus hit back through Daniel Dreher, who picked up three wickets at a cost of 40 runs from four overs, while Dale Kenyon returned 2-26, also from four overs.

Meanwhile, the remaining Belhus senior matches were abandoned as draws. Belhus seconds were dismissed for 163 by Leigh’s second string, while Belhus thirds restricted South Woodford fourths to 202 for the loss of six wickets.

Stanford-le-Hope are third in Shepherd Neame Division Two following their four-wicket defeat at home to Harold Wood.

The hosts were bowled out for 160 in 44.1 overs before rain forced the teams off. Harold Wood were set a revised target and won with 87-6 off 25 overs.

Fifth-placed Horndon on the Hill defeated bottom club Basildon & Pitsea by seven wickets at home after being set a revised target of 114 off 20 overs.

Danny Gray hit an unbeaten 87 and Lloyd Lambert 31 as Basildon reached 196-7 off 50 overs. Liam Hubbard led the attack with 4-39.

Horndon’s reply was led by Kashif Nizami (30no) and captain Jeff West (23no) as they replied with 115-3 from 16.2 overs, with Dan Bedford taking 2-21.

Billericay marched ever closer to promotion in Division Three as they maintained their unbeaten run at the top of the table.

The leaders put their Pegasus & Corringham hosted division three leaders Billericay and were bowled out for 58 in 21.3 overs after being put into bat first.

Only Harry Morgan-James (20) and Martyn Hathaway (12no) had any joy batting at eight and nine.