Aythorpe Roding are hitting form at the right time with a victory over Great Baddow lifting them closer to safety in the Mid Essex Cricket League Premier Division.

They won by seven runs at home to move 32 points their visitors in the table.

Skipper Paul Gravatt won the toss and batting first, his batsmen put in an excellent performance.

Joe Apperley top scored with 56 while there was 39 for Richard Eaton as they got to 233-9 in their 45 overs.

Great Baddow's reply got off to a steady start and 73 not out from Paul Taylor gave them a chance going into the final over.

They needed 12 from the final six deliveries but only managed five, Manith De Silva taking 4-42 as Aythorpe's best bowler.

Aythorpe Roding make the short journey to derby rivals High Roding on Saturday.

High Roding themselves had a thrilling game against Stock, the match finishing in a rare tie.

They had batted first and made 252-6 in their 45 overs.

And they had Stock nine men down by the end, although they too finished on 252.

Roding's thirds lost away to Ardeley Walkern, 91 from Tahir Khan the highlight in their score of 161.

And it proved nowhere near good enough as Ardeley knocked off the runs with the loss of just two wickets.

Saffron Walden meanwhile lost by three wickets at home to Bury St Edmunds in the East Anglian Premier League.

They scored 250 after being put into bat, with 63 from Ashleigh Cox their top score.

They had the visitors on the ropes at one point too, struggling at 86-4, but despite the best efforts of Oliver Rae and his 3-47, Bury eased home after 44 overs.