BELHUS were comfortably defeated by Oakfield Parkonians in SNEL Division Two on Saturday, despite Martin Guilbert’s undefeated middle order contribution of 42.

Opener Ryan Wells struck 31 and credit must be given to number eleven Connor Day’s rear-guard knock of 15, without which the Belhus total of 163 would have been much lower.

Home opening bowler Raghav Chopra and first change Eshun Kalley picked up seven wickets between them - Chopra finishing with 3-28 while Kalley’s return was 4-28.

All six home batsmen reached double figures, with openers Faisal Bhatti and Jibran Azam scoring 20 and 36 respectively before both were trapped LBW.

Haris Khan contributed 23 until he was stumped by Michael Fogg off Daniel Dreher (2-21) for 23 and Dreher’s second wicket occurred courtesy of a Billy Winter catch to dismiss Ramya Upadhyay for 14.

The Kalley clan – Paran and Eshun – ensured there was no further loss as both were undefeated, Paran one short of the half-century mark.

Belhus 2nd 242 all out

Oakfield Parkonians 2nd 211-9

A match-winning fifth wicket partnership of 123 between captain John Lewis and Stephen Huckstepp gave Belhus seconds a decisive 31-run success at North Stifford.

Lewis hit 63 while Huckstepp reached 62, despite 5-45 from Sifth Ali in 8.3 overs, as Belhus scored 242.

After a run of four defeats, Belhus seconds have now won their last two league matches and will be hoping to achieve a third successive victory when they visit Gidea Park and Romford on Saturday.

Belhus thirds embarrassed Old Southendian & Southchurch fourths, winning by 168 runs.

An opening partnership of 132 from Tom Thompson (89 not out) and Nick Marns (62) put Belhus in the driving seat - Thompson hitting 13 fours while Marns hit eight fours and one six.

Skipper Jack Plane unselfishly declared the innings closed on 29, as Belhus scored 209-2.

Father and son Alan and Billy Maidment completed what turned out to be a rout by claiming eight wickets between them - Alan with five wickets at a cost of just 16 runs while Billy claimed 3-17.

The remaining two wickets were shared by Aidan Mason and Adam Dudmish. For the Old Boys, only Woody Marron reached double figures with 12 as wicketkeeper Jack Day picked up three catches, as they expired on 41.

There was yet another match-winning partnership for Belhus when fifth’s duo Joshua Clarke and Zak Wilson put on 112 runs for the second wicket at against Harold Wood fifths.

Clarke scored his maiden half-century and then continued his stay at the crease to finish undefeated on 90, scoring 11 fours and two sixes from 105 balls.

Wilson hit two sixes in his 64, including nine fours from 49 balls faced.

Jim Robertson joined Clarke with an undefeated 25 from 41 balls to see the visitors to a deserved six-wicket win.

Earlier, home opener Steve Faram contributed 56 until he was run out by Belhus wicketkeeper David Sullivan, while number three batsman Brett Ward matched his score.

Chris Low was undefeated at tea with 53 not out.

The pick of the Belhus bowlers was Jamie Fairweather (2-28) and Rob Long, Wilson and Mike Squires picked up a wicket each.