The chase for the North East London League title continued to heat up on Saturday as Stoke Newington and London Fields both recorded valuable wins.

Stoke Newington edged aside Renaissance Youth in a thrilling two-wicket win. Stoke Newington (pictured) won the toss and chose to field, only to see Renaissance reach 228 all out with contributions throughout the batting order.

Anam Arafat Amit (61) was the pick of the bunch, while Abul Kasim Nalla took 3-23 for Stoke Newington. Stoke Newington started their reply with a wobble, and lost early wickets until a barnstorming 132-run partnership between Ali Patel (65) and Khpalwar Zazai (77).

It almost wasn’t enough; after the two big hitters were removed late on there were nerves for Newington, until number eight batsman Tom Ashman hit consecutive fours and a straight six over the bowler’s head to win it in the 34th over.

At London Fields, meanwhile, the home side beat Coach & Horses by 30 runs to secure their highest league position so far.

Fields were sent in to bat on a soggy Springfields Park, and began to pile on the runs, with valuable half centuries from Steve Fernbank (50) and Troy Utz (58), leaving them on 179.

The Coach openers got off to a good start, but the wickets began to tumble and the run rate was slowed. Dave Miller (3-9) and Paul Alexander (3-24) did the damage, taking three wickets each. Some big hitting down the order kept Coach in it, but they fell short by 30 runs.

Elsewhere, Clapton & Oval continued their good run with a comfortable win against Baring Up on Hackney Marshes. Clapton skipper Kerry Tyrrell won the toss and elected to field – and was rewarded with early wickets, as opening bowlers Jim O’Reilly and Ishmail Matvad took the game to the opposition.

Baring were saved from embarrassment by a 50-run partnership for their eighth wicket, which helped them to a respectable score on a tricky-looking pitch.

Nonetheless, the Clapton batsmen made short work of the total, helped by quick scoring from Kaspar Pedersen (29) and Kerry Tyrrell (38), which took them over the line before the drinks break to an eight-wicket win.

Broadway Market made it two wins from two with a victory over The Camel. Camel lost the toss and were sent in on a pitch that was damp and clay-like after overnight rain, with the ball coming on slowly and never really getting moving.

Ahmed Nisar was particularly effective, with figures of 4-23 from his six overs helping to reduce Camel to 98 all out in 26.5 overs. Broadway Market took few chances with their chase, reaching the target in the 22nd over.