Derby day in the Mid Essex Cricket League Premier Division produced another enthralling clash - but it was High Roding who took the honours at Aythorpe Roding.

The visitors won by 68 runs to move sixth in the table and leave their hosts bottom of the pile.

The game was littered with good individual performances on both sides of the divide.

High Roding won the toss and elected to bat on a dry firm wicket. Henry Willis made 29, seven of them coming from boundaries, while fellow opener Steve Molloy went on to score 56, giving them a firm footing.

Alex Lodge weighed in with 22 but it was George Halls who pushed the total on, reaching 78 from 62 balls with eight fours and three sixes.

Some late hitting down the order, the best of them 18 from Jeff Clarke, helped pushed High Roding on to 247-8, giving them a very good total to defend.

For the hosts, 16-year-old Manith De Silva was the undoubted star, claiming 4-31 from his eight overs while Fred Dutton also bowled well to take 3-51.

High Roding then got off to the perfect start as Halls bowled skipper Paul Gravatt with the first ball and that stunned the home side.

They quickly fell to 17-3 before an excellent 56 runs from 88 balls by Richard Eaton pulled Aythorpe back into the contest.

Sam Blackman scored 25 and there was a delightful eighth-wicket partnership of 46, De Silva cementing his man of the match performance with 35 not out from 36 balls.

However, they didn't trouble the run rate and ended up on 179-9.

George Halls took 2-27 while brother Archie managed 2-16, Clarke also getting two wickets at the expense of 24 runs.

Next week High Roding are at home to Great Baddow at The Meadow while Aythorpe Roding travel to Great Waltham.

High Roding's second team had a comprehensive victory against East Hanningfield.

Andy Duke (66) and Mark Gilfrin (47) put on 114 for the first wicket while there was 36 from Richard Pilcher and 41 for Nad Kumarapperuma as they also got to 247-8.

In reply, Charlie Smith managed 3-36 and Amit Tulaskar got 2-21 as Hanningfield got to 164.

But the best figures belonged to Mukarram Shamin who claimed 5-37.

The thirds were guilty of missed chances in the field as they lost by 57 runs at Thaxted.

It allowed the hosts to get to 264-4 in their 40 overs although there were two wickets for Stabley Bellieu-Clarke and one for George Welland.

Both are members of the colts team and with three others, they make up the backbone of the thirds.

And there was promise shown again in the reply, but they couldn't get up to the target with 70 from Neil Doyle the best score.