HARLOW C.C. v HARLOW TOWN C.C.
1st September 2018 at Marigolds

Harlow Town 225 all out after 50 overs.
Harlow 169 all out after 37.2 overs

SURAJ Chauhan’s bowling figures of 6-59 alongside a solid team performance, retained Harlow Town’s place in Division 2 of the Shepherd Neame Essex League on Saturday by taking 25 points at the expense of local rivals Harlow, who are now relegated to Division 3. The Phoenix Park side, having not won any of their first seven league games, have then gone on a run of seven wins in the last 10 fixtures, starting with the first local derby on 30th June at home to Harlow, the win kick starting their season and they again proved to be the better side winning by 56 runs.

Skipper Dan Farmer, on winning the toss, elected to bat first knowing that a win would give his side 25 points and a slim chance that with other results going their way this week and next, could actually see them promoted. As it stands they now hold 3rd place and even a full 25 points in the last fixture next week against South Woodford is not long likely to be enough. A disastrous start to the season has been converted into a minor triumph.

Town’s innings saw Ashley Alderson top scoring with 60, Joe Holland 34, Neil Gladwin 19, Pat Yates 35 and Ben Eversden 14, all made a solid contribution with the last wicket falling on the last ball of the 50 overs at 225 all out. Rehman Ahmed and Luke Monger with three wickets apiece were the pick of the Harlow bowlers.

Harlow’s reply was always up with the required run rate. Luke Monger, 29, then Harlow skipper Rehman Ahmed who was run out for 29 after backing up at the non-striker’s end with Ben Eversden’s magnificent attempted caught and bowled seeing the ball deflected onto the stumps, was looking in good form. Despite Ryan Jessey 20, Nicky Baxter 25, Callum Sykes 16 and Waheed Azam 20, no one could make the big score needed as Chauhan’s 6-59 and Jibran Azam’s off spin 3-40 steadily picked off the Harlow batsmen, leaving the hosts 56 runs short, remaining on the bottom spot in Division 2 as they were dismissed in the 38th over.