HARLOW TOWN C.C. v. HORNDON ON THE HILL C.C.

HTCC won by 47 runs

TWENTY more valuable points were gained by Harlow Town at Ashtree Field on Saturday.

Winning the toss, skipper Dan Farmer elected to bat and the returning Ashley Alderson made hay while the sun shone with a blistering innings of 70, the first 50 coming in only 25 balls, totally dismantling the visitor’s attack as he put Horndon to the sword with fellow opener Dan Baldwin, 22, the pair put on 69 for the first wicket. Alderson’s 70 came in just 39 balls before he was caught in deep gulley with the score on 113. There was no let up for Horndon with Suraj Chauhan settling in and when Pat Yates joined him at the wicket, with Yates playing the anchor role, they showed no mercy with Chauhan continuing where Alderson had left off as Horndon had no answer for his assault as he fell just short of a well deserved hundred with 97. With Pat Yates, 48, the pair had a third wicket stand of 140 and took the score to 255-3 and a mammoth score looked inevitable, but never count your chickens as Town went from 253-3 to 287 all out in 45.3 overs with no other batsmen reaching double figures – incredible!!

On resumption after tea, Town took early wickets as skipper Dan Farmer threw all his leading bowlers into the attack. Ben Eversden with great figures of 4-16 off his allotted 10 overs, helped by a brilliant running catch from Sam Wilson to dismiss skipper Jeff West for 0, and Dan Farmer having already clean bowled opener Hutchinson for 24, Suraj Chauhan picked up economical figures of 1-25 off his 8 overs. Horndon were reduced to 96-6 and looking down the barrel, but then incredibly started to fight back and at this stage you could be forgiven for thinking the visitors had reversed their batting order as the total escalated with Ryan Cutts 25, Ben Walker 38, Jack Marion 59, scoring freely and looking dangerous and getting the score past the 200 mark. Walker was then dismissed by Sam Wilson and with the overs running down the visitors had to take risks. Their last two wickets produced 40 runs as Town ran out winners by 47 runs in the 48th over. A good win that should have been more convincing.

Best bowling figures were Ben Eversden 4-16 off 10 overs, Dan Farmer 2-42 off 10 overs, Sam Wilson 2-23 off 3 overs and Suraj Chauhan 1-25 off 8 overs.

Benfleet CC II v Harlow Town CC II

HTCC Lost by 6 Wickets

It was a disappointing afternoon for Harlow Town second XI as they travelled away to Benfleet. Batting first Town lost early wickets, Jason Gladwin started well upon his return for 21. Despite some lower order fight from Kishore Kumar scoring 41 not out and Nick Teale with 21, Town were 147 all out.

In reply, Toby Goddard picked up the early wicket of Critchell however fellow opener saw his side home with 62 not out winning by 6 Wickets. Kishore Kumar picked up 2 wickets from his 9 over allocation and Simon Rowell with the other.

Hadleigh & Thundersley III v Harlow Town III

HTCC Lost by 88 Runs

Bowling first, Town could only reduce the hosts to 276 for 5 from their 45 overs. Raju Murugaiyan taking 2 wickets. In response, Town lost key wickets from the start, Brian Lall top scoring with 47 as Town were all out for 188.

Harlow Town CC IV v Thundridge CC

HTCC won by 8 Wickets

Town fielded first and were set 239 as Peter Smith scored 102 for the visitors. Ashley Norcott took 3 wickets and Isabelle Richardson took 2. In reply, Town got off to a canter with Andrew Barrs and Pranjal Roy both recording maiden 50’s. Barrs was out for 74 however Roy saw his side home by 8 wickets scoring 106 not out with over 9 overs left.