JAKE Foley has hailed Colchester and East Essex’s excellent win over league leaders Hutton as their best in his time as first XI captain.

The Castle Park side ran out 24-run winners over the Shepherd Neame Essex League division one table toppers, to make up crucial ground on the front-runners.

After being put into bat, Colchester were dismissed for 239.

And four wickets apiece from Taurai Muzarabani (4-26) and Denson Narayan (4-32) helped them wrap up a fourth straight league victory.

Colchester now sit 32 points behind Hutton in the table with five games remaining and are 13 points clear of third-placed Buckhurst Hill, whom they beat by 77 runs the previous week.

Foley, who is in his second season as first XI skipper, told the Daily Gazette: “It was a much-needed result.

“We knew exactly what we needed to do after beating Buckhurst Hill and it was essential that we followed it up with another win.

“I think it was probably up there as the best result we’ve had, since I’ve been captain.

“The previous weekend against Buckhurst Hill was a top result and to follow that up in such a way was great.

“We knew we had to do it to keep our advantage over Buckhurst Hill, who beat Harold Wood.

“There was a great spirit about the team and everyone was elated afterwards.”

Colchester’s top-order batsmen came up trumps at Hutton, with opener Joe MacGregor (56) setting the pace and Jack Hebron (57) and Josh Rymell (44 not out) also making telling contributions.

Foley said: “Joe MacGregor did well again at the top of the order, Jack Hebron did his usual thing and Josh Rymell played a very important innings, batting with the tail to keep us out there as long as we could.

“We’d have probably have taken a score of 239 at the start of the game.

“But we were 190 for three off around 35 overs and from there, we should have gone on to get at least 300.

“To get bowled out with overs to spare was criminal but we still felt the total we ended up with was enough and we bowled well.”

Hutton were never really allowed to get away in their response.

But Muzarabani’s dismissal of prolific Australian batter Vivian Paver was the breakthrough Colchester needed.

“Getting Paver out was a key moment in the match,” added Foley.

“He was the prize wicket and he’s scored over 1,000 runs this season for them.

“It was a crucial breakthrough and it changed the course of the game.”

Colchester will be looking to maintain their winning run when they host Upminster at Castle Park, on Saturday.