ADAM Eaton’s unbeaten century helped Harwich and Dovercourt Cricket Club bounce straight back from their previous week’s disappointment in division five of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship.

Having seen their three-match winning run brought to a halt in a low-scoring game against Witham seconds the week before, Harwich got back to winning ways as they beat Elmstead Grasshoppers seconds by 26 runs at Low Road.

Harwich batted first and made a steady start, with openers Tom Luxford and Steve Bushell laying a good foundation, but it was the third-wicket partnership between Aaron Bilton and Adam Eaton that really took the hosts’ total forward.

And once Bilton had departed for 68, Richie Bushell joined Eaton and they carried the Harwich innings up to 273 for three from their 45 overs.

Richie Bushell finished unbeaten on 47 and Eaton was 107 not out.

It was a daunting target for Elmstead, but they made a good start under openers Fraser Eadie and Steve Sarsby.

When Eadie was out LBW to Aaron Rudkin for 32, Sarsby pushed on and went on to score 123 that may have been enough to win the game on another day, but the bowling of Richie Bushell ripped the heart out of the Grasshoppers’ middle order.

He had three victims clean bowled, including Sarsby, and one caught and bowled to return figures of four for 70 from 15 overs.

Rudkin picked up another wicket to finish with two for 64 and the falling wickets meant Elmstead dropped behind the run rate.

They were able to bat out their 45 overs, but fell 26 runs short.

Harwich picked up 18 points and, with Elmstead only taking six, it was enough to see the Low Road side leapfrog over them into fifth spot.

Harwich are due to head to Earl Stoneham tomorrow (start 1pm).