BENFLEET secured a seven-wicket win over Stanford-le-Hope to dent their visitors’ promotion hopes.

The victory moved Benfleet up a place to seventh in the SNEL Division Three standings, while Stanford remained fourth but lost ground on the top two promotion contenders.

Both undefeated league leaders Old Brentwoods and second-placed Basildon & Pitsea won to edge clear of the chasing pack.

Benfleet captain put Stanford in to bat after winning the toss and saw the visitors bowled out for 181 in 48.3 overs.

Thomas Willats (48), Michael Gray (41) and Shehan Perera (21) kept things ticking over early on but skipper Matthew Page (18), Jordan Dodd (13) and Jack Carter (10) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures.

Stephen Reeve claimed 3-20 from seven over for Benfleet, while Paul Frensham (2-32) bowled three maidens from his 9.3 overs and Jamie Hodgson took 2-31.

Rob Zammit, Callum Wheeler and Blowes took a wicket each.

Opener Samuel Coelho anchored Benfleet’s run chase with 83 before he was caught by Sachin Sewgobind.

But Reeve (26) and Blowes (17) provided assistance until Zammit (24no) and Oliver Kersley (15no) guided the hosts to a winning 812-3 in 46.3 overs.

Basildon & Pitsea continued their game of leapfrog with Westcliff-on-Sea by beating them by a wicket at Chalkwell Park to retake second place and drop their hosts to third.

Westcliff captain Chris Gladwin elected to bat after winning the toss and it looked an inspired decision as opener Charlie Lockhart posted an undefeated 133 from 136 balls, including 17 fours.

Fellow opener Lews Groves contributed 48, Finlay Mackay 36 and Rahul Ravi 14 as the hosts posted 266-9 from their 50 overs.

Dan Bedford led the Basildon attack with 3-61, while there were two-wicket hauls for Dean Bedford (2-63), Tom Poole (2-24) and Liam Rouse (2-57).

Basildon lost skipper Michael Gray (11) and fellow opened Rob Davies (10) early on, but Darren Thompson hit 11 fours on his way to 89.

Rouse added 68 runs and Kelai Selven (19) and Phillip Rooke (15) contributed.

Dean Bedford (20no) and Dan Bedford (4no) saw the visitors to a winning 267-9 in 49.5 overs.

Robert Pinkerton (3-49) and Austin Holmes (3-52) provided the biggest threat, while Lockhart completed a good day’s work by taking 2-43.