ANOTHER excellent performance by Aythorpe Roding saw them beat third-placed Old Chelmsfordians by eight wickets in the T Rippon Mid-Essex League premier division.

Old Chelmsfordians batted first and had former Aythorpe Roding player Joe Grant at the top of their order, but Jack Stevens quickly removed both openers.

Wickets fell at regular intervals, but a couple of batsmen made it into the 40s and some late hitting by Old Chelmsfordians' Tom Bird helped them reach 217 for nine from their 45 overs.

Aythorpe bowled really well with six bowlers claiming wickets as Jack Stevens and Joel Barnett got two each and there was one apiece for Neil Culleton, Graham Milbank, Andy Clarke and Liam Rosewell.

An early wicket fell in Aythorpe Roding's reply as Jack Stevens was bowled by Bird for nine, but Paul Gravatt and Culleton then put on a second-wicket partnership of 181 runs in 37 overs.

Gravatt finished on 91 not out and Culleton hit 87 before he was out, but Barnett joined Gravatt to be 13 not out at the end as Aythorpe Roding reached 218 for two in 43 overs to seal an eight-wicket win.

The result moved Aythorpe Roding into fifth place in the league ahead of a home game against Goresbrook on Saturday (1pm start).