1,000 RUNS FOR LEWIS BLAKE:

Shenfield 1st XI 236-7 (David Hickey 87)
Belhus 1st XI 237-7 (Lewis Blake 112* Ryan Wells 70):

In this fourteenth HFEL match of the season, Division leaders Shenfield won the toss and (unsurprisingly on a very hot day) elected to bat first.

Although Dylan Sinfield and Louie Mailey were able to collect 3 wickets apiece, Shenfield batted steadily with skipper David Hickey scoring 87 to lift his side up to a slightly under-par 236 for 7 after the allotted 50 overs.

The Belhus reply got off to a pretty miserable start as they soon found themselves in a bit of trouble at 28 for 3.  But then opener Lewis Blake and Ryan Wells combined together to take the heat out of the situation with a controlled 117-run 4th wicket partnership before Ryan fell for 70.  And although Lewis and Billy Winter were able to manufacture a 43-run 7th wicket partnership to lift the total to 212 for 7, the game was still in the balance.  But Lewis continued along his merry way to complete a fine undefeated century (112*) to pass 1,000 runs for the season and steer his side home to a 3-wicket win with 6 overs to spare.

Well played Belhus. This was a fine performance by the 1st XI whose spirits were lifted after a run of disappointing results, and they can now proceed to the remaining 4 matches of the season with heightened confidence.