Essex staffer Walter contributes with bat and ball

Billericay got the better of Buckhurst Hill in their Essex League Division One clash at Roding Lane.

The hosts chose to bat first, but Adam Marchant made the breakthrough with the new ball to dismiss Hendro Puchert and also accounted for Darren Ironside, with Essex staffer Paul Walter having success at the other end to reduce Hill to 22-3.

Jamie Allen (29) and Hermes Solomonides put on 78 for the fourth wicket, before Gary Hynes got in on the act for Billericay.

And Ross Poulton had Solomonides stumped by Rob Lee for 60, having hit eight fours, to make it 118-5.

Poulton struck again soon after, with Walter (2-28) running out Rohan Bhome and then claiming his second wicket, before Marchant (3-29) had more success.

Walter ran out last man Omar Ahmad to wrap up the Hill innings on 160 in the 50th over, but Billericay lost Nick van Lint cheaply in reply.

Tall left-hander Walter hit three sixes and four fours in a run-a-ball 43 as he put on 73 for the second wicket with David Hinnigan, who fell for 40 soon after to make it 98-3.

And Billericay’s middle-order batsmen chipped away at the target, with David Houghton, Poulton and Andy Smith all making it into double figures, before captain Lee Knight and Lee clinched a three-wicket win in the 40th over.