Harlow Town CC 264 – 8 beat Harlow CC – 178 all out

HARLOW Town registered their first much needed league win of the season at the expense of local rivals Harlow CC, who they had not met in a league encounter for 24 years. The last time they met was 1994 when the Marigold Men came out on top, but not this time as Harlow Town proved the better side on the day.

On a scorching summer day, skipper Dan Farmer won the toss for Town and elected to bat on what looked like a 290+ wicket and fast outfield. Harlow Town did not start well, losing Scott Alderson, who had batted so well the previous week, for 0 in the very first over. Suraj Chauhan joined Scott’s brother Ashley Alderson and the pair quickly put on 56 runs before Alderson, who had looked in fine form, mis-hooked Callum Sykes to deep square leg where Nicky Baxter took a great running catch over his shoulder, for 27. 56 – 2 soon became 63 – 3 as Chauhan slashed to gully off Sykes for 25.

Jibran Azam was next to fall without troubling the scores and at 64 – 4 Town looked in a bit of bother. Joe Holland was settling in when he was joined by Neil Gladwin and the experienced duo started to take control, Holland playing fluently and Gladwin rotating the strike and putting any loose balls away, the pair with a 5th wicket stand of 121 took the score to 185 before Gladwin gave a simple caught and bowled to Harlow skipper Rehman Ahmed for 40. Two runs later Holland went after scoring a classy 78. Skipper Dan Farmer entered the arena and immediately took the attack to the opposition as he saw out the last overs coming down the wicket and dispatching the ball to the boundary, finishing on 48 not out and Dan Baldwin adding support for 13.

For Harlow CC the bowlers were: Callum Sykes 3 – 30, Rehman Ahmed 2-32, Like Monger 2 – 54 and Nicky Baxter 1 – 27.

After the interval Harlow must have thought they had a great chance, 264 being an under par score for the conditions. Both openers, Luke Monger 13 and Mitchell Howarde 12 got started but failed to carry on, both succumbing to Suraj Chauhan. With the score at 30 – 2, skipper Ahmed looked to rebuild his side’s innings and with a mixture of fine shots and a little luck, steadily pushed the innings on but wickets continuously fell around him, 20 from Nicky Baxter, 36 from Callum Sykes, 19 from Muhammad Naeem and 17 from Joe Riddell were his main support. Town left arm spinner Ronnie Yates was steadily picking up wickets and when he had skipper Ahmed caught and bowled for 43, the writing was on the wall for Harlow. They were all out for 178 with Town winning by 86 runs.

Bowling for Town: Ronnie Yates 4 – 48, Suraj Chauhan 2 – 28, Jack Elston 2 – 51, Jibran Azam 2 – 21 who all made valuable contributions to a good all round team performance.

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