15th August 2015 League Home v Hornchurch

Harlow won the toss and elected to field.

Result – Hornchurch won by 22 runs.

Harlow’s tail collapses along with their hopes of promotion.

Skipper Rehman Ahmed won the toss and elected to bowl first on a slight soft wicket at Marigolds, and Harlow were full of optimism for three quarters of the game on Saturday against League leaders Hornchurch.

Harlow started well with Mustanser Meraj and Nick Baxter bowling tight and not letting the Hornchurch opening pair get away. Billy Gordon was first to fall being caught off the bowling of Meraj for 7, whilst attempting to increase the run rate. Bringing in form Paul Walters to the crease, the Harlow bowlers continued to bowl tight and Hornchurch continued around only three an over. The skipper turned to Luke Monger, to try and find a break through, Luke dually obliged as he got Paul Murray Jnr caught on the pull, for a patient 36. Inform Hornchurch captain Roy Smith then entered the fray, both Walters and Smith have been Hornchurch’s main run providers this season but Harlow made it tough for Smith to score and Luke Monger claimed his second wicket, bowling him for 11. Walter was eventually removed by off spinner Hafiz Yawar finding a false shot which flew to point for a diving Monger to take a decent catch. Ross Vasani then came on to bowl the death overs and he subdued the Hornchurch’s batting, resulting in a below par total of 199/8 from their 52 overs. With all Harlow’s bowlers producing decent figures, Meraj 28/1, Baxter 47/1, Monger 45/2 , Vasani 28/2 and Hafiz Yawar with figures of 2 wickets for just 6 runs from his 4 overs.

Harlow in reply lost inform Alan Jones early for 2, being cleaned bowled by Billy Gordon. Bringing the captain Rehman Ahmed to the crease on 20/1. Along with Hafiz Yawar they combined a partnership of 95 leaving Hornchurch captain consistently changing the bowling to strive for a wicket. They took the score to 115/2, until Ahmed was found caught and bowled for 44 of the bowling of Taqi Abbas. Yawar continued to bat through, seeing inform Ahmed Khawaja play onto his stumps for 3 from the bowling of Gordon. Yawar then formed a productive partnership with Conor Ramsey, before Yawar edged one behind off the bowling of Chamikara Mudalige for 79. With the score on 163/4, Ramsey went shortly after for 28, Abbas finding him LBW. Harlow then collapsed to 177 all out in 43 overs, after being in front of the game for so long. The last 6 wickets cost Hornchurch and mere 14 runs. Leg spinner Abbas picking up the 48/3 and off spinner Mudalige 33/4 including the final wicket, which sealed the win for Hornchurch.

With three matches remaining Harlow travel to Upminister this Saturday, striving a win, to help see them secure a top half finish.