Goresbrook moved to the top of the Hamro Foundation Essex League Division Three table with a six-wicket win over Harlow Town at May & Baker.

Visiting captain Ronnie Yates elected to bat on a sunny afternoon but was left to rue his decision as the hosts attack took full advantage with the new ball.

Brook skipper Kane Messenger’s fiery opening spell yielded two quick wickets, before Daniel Baldwin (48) and Shiraz Ali (22) added 57 to steady the visitors nerves.

But the introduction of seamer Daryl Forward turned the game in the home side's favour as the 28-year-old bagged a nap hand of 5-23 to decimate Town’s middle order.

Left-arm spinner Shane Barwick (2-18) turned the screw at the other end before Messenger (3-28) returned to end the innings on a paltry 108.

Brook lost Shaun Ross cheaply before tea, but Juber Rukon hit six boundaries after the restart in his 37.

Lee Jones (15) and Barwick (29) maintained the charge before Danny Gillham struck the winning blow to boost Goresbrook’s hopes of promotion.

They sit one point clear of Harlow with five games remaining and host Leigh-on-Sea this weekend.

The seconds slumped to a four-wicket loss at West Essex, after seeing captain Rohit Sharma and Siraj Zafar dismissed without scoring.

Mohammed Imran (33) and Manish Battan (30) restored some stability, with cameos from Lovelin Mostra (22) and Karnail Kalyan (17) lifting the total to 128.

And Ranjeet Godihanya claimed two early wickets in reply to lift the visitors hopes before a steady middle-order revival led by Mohammad Zahour (32) and Rashid Muhammad (31 not out) saw the hosts to their target in some comfort.

Brook's thirds crashed to a seven-wicket defeat against Belhus fifths after being dismissed for just 110 in 31 overs.

Wickets fell at regular intervals until the last three batters - Ricci Parnell (23 not out), Fahad Zafar (20) and Rahan Hassan - restored some respectability.

Belhus keeper Adam Martin struck an excellent 45 before becoming the first of Aryaman Parida’s two victims, effectively putting the match beyond Goresbrook’s grasp.

Debutant Rohaan Khan grabbed a consolation wicket before Afra Mohamed and Sam Hiscott sealed the win for the hosts.

Goresbrook's Shane Barwick produced a superb innings against Stallion in the Spa Tec Essex Sunday League, before the match was abandoned as a draw.

The 26-year-old left-handed opener smacked 187 from just 70 balls as he dispatched the Stallion attack to all corners of the Polo Field Ground.

Barwick hit 12 sixes and 23 fours, sharing 233 for the first wicket with captain Ted Ivory (47), as Brook piled up 245-4 in just 21.3 overs, but it proved in vain as the heavens opened.