Belhus 1st 205-7 dec Northfleet 134 all out A BRILLIANT innings of 94 from Roy Heffernan containing 16 stylish boundaries powered Belhus to a fine victory at Wombwell Park, Northfleet on Saturday.

Heffernan was given valuable support from Michael Fogg with 32 runs as these two put on 99 for the second wicket.

The Belhus batsmen put the home fielders under significant pressure with some excellent running, but occasionally excessive risks were taken, perhaps unnecessarily, which led to the home side obtaining four run outs.

In addition, there were two stumpings, Heffernan being one victim; the other Daniel Dreher.

The scorecard painted an alternative picture to the usual plethora of bowled and caught dismissals but the bottom line of 205 runs was expected to provide a stern test for the Northfleet batsmen. And so it proved.

Belhus opened their bowling attack with two spinners, one of whom was Brian Edwards, unfazed by the occasional six hit to return three wickets at a cost of 38 runs – and in so doing, reached 50 victims for the season.

A fine reward for the left-armer. With Dreher steaming in from the Waterdales end to bag four wickets for just eleven runs from six overs to add to his 16 runs scored with the bat, a comprehensive 71-run victory was a good result from a positive and confident display.

l Belhus are celebrating their fourth string defeating Harold Wood CC in their last Shepherd Neame Essex League match of the seasonand clinching the Division Three East title with 289 points.

The Belhus Sunday firsts are also on a high after securing third place in the Essex Sunday League East Division.

It was a fine improvement on last year’s seventh position in this 40 overs format.

Paul Bennett was the most impresive Belhus batsman.

He scored an impressive tally of 653 runs from just eight innings (tallying two 100s and four 50s).

He also clocked up the club's third highest individual score of 175 not out against Benfleet CC. And in the same match, Paul and Richard Day compiled a club record fifth wicket partnership of 141 in our final score of 303 for 5.

Belhus’ leading wicket-taker was Michael Cansdale who captured 19 wickets including a best 6 for 21 against Old Southendian & Southchurch CC. Another highlight was when Belhus chased down Basildon & Pitsea’s 273-5 in 37 overs. Michael Fogg registered his first century (108 not out) in senior cricket, and with Joe Joyce hit 69.