Match Reports 2016

16th July 2016 League Home v Woodford Wells

Harlow won the toss and elected to bat.

Result – Harlow won by 30 runs

HARLOW’S first team won an entertaining match against Woodford Wells at a sun-baked Marigolds, skipper Rehman chose to bat on a really decent batting strip prepared by the meticulous Harlow Grounds man Cliff Clark.

The hosts started well with openers Alan Jones (18) and Hafiz Yawar putting on 46 before Jones was clean bowled of Usman Sahar. Yawar kept piling on the runs with skipper Ahmed with a partnership of 124 until he was harshly adjudged LBW for 70 from the bowling of leg spinner Tanveer Shaj. Ahmed followed shortly after for 65, unluckily adjudged to have been caught behind of the off spinner Jonathon Gaffney. With the platform set on 177/3 on 30 overs, the rest of the Harlow batsmen took the score to 298/8 of 50 overs. Ahmed Khawaja (44), Ubaid Kiani (23), Zabi Hakimi (35) being the main contributors. Gaffney was the pick of the bowlers with 3/54.

Woodfords reply started just as strong, if not stronger with a partnership of 49 from 8 overs, between Joe Johnson and Jack Johnson. The partnership was broken by some sharp fielding and a brilliant throw leading to a direct hit by Hakimi at mid on. The run out of Jack Johnson (31) was shortly followed by a caught from Mustanser Meraj to dismiss fellow opener Joe Johnson (18) .

This brought Michael Arblaster and Tanveer Shah to reconstruct their innings, Arblaster being the leagues top run scorer went about his business by putting away the bad ball and consistently rotating the strike. Harlow had a huge shout for LBW against Arblaster when he was on just 15, from the bowling of Mitch Howarde, but it was turned down by the umpire. Arblaster releived of the decision kept chipping away at the score. It wasn’t until Luke Heskett got a break through by trapping Shah LBW for 28, that Harlow thought they could get back into the game. With the score on 173/4 off 30 overs the next 5 overs were pivotal. Heskett took another wicket in Gareth James caught at cover by Yawar. Yawar then removed Arblaster, caught behind for 91.

Seeing the back of Arblaster, then set up the game for Harlow to take but it wasn’t easy. Gaffney buoyed by his bowling took the game to Harlow hitting boundaries, however he was losing partners as Nick Baxter was reintroduced into the attack, he eventually bowled Gaffney for 47. Heskett picked up an important 2/49 and Baxter 4/49, in mopping up the tail. Woodford Wells finishing on 268 from 49 overs.

Harlow are away to Billericay this Saturday, where they’ve not visited for several years. But plan to keep the momentum going.