SATURDAY saw an incredible day of cricket for many of Harlow’s adult sides. Centuries, five wicket hauls, brilliant catches, an incredible fight back and last over dramas – the day had it all.

Many players produced superb performances, not least the pictured Arshad Muhammed and Atif Mustehsan who both made hundreds. Arshad was a late call up to the Second XI. He has been a high performing Three’s player for a long time but to be called up to play at the higher level and make a century is staggeringly good. Atif batted brilliantly for his ton whilst under considerable pressure due to the importance of the game for the Third XI. The other centurion on the day was the First XI’s Ben Yeats. Ben reached three figures for the fifth time this season and now has 931 league runs already this campaign, smashing the record he set himself last year as the highest season total by a home grown player at the club. It is surely no coincidence that Arshad, Atif and Ben all practised at length in the nets on Friday.

With the ball Chris Whitworth took 5 wickets and almost turned a certain defeat into a stunning victory for the First XI. Chris was clearly ill but gave his absolute all to bowl 16 overs and had the agility to pull off a superb return catch to dismiss former Harlow star, Hafiz Yawar Afzal. Highlight mention also to Jake and Farhad Hikmatshah who helped bowl the Second XI to a win at Marigolds with three wickets each. Even the grumpy lot by the scoreboard were impressed I hear!

To the action then and the First XI trying to rebuilt after two horrible defeats with a fixture at Woodford Green. Harlow lost the toss and found themselves batting on a track that was difficult to judge. At one end it looked a passive road and the other was misbehaving with uneven, sometimes tennis ball, bounce.

After the early loss of Chris Whitworth, Ben Yeats and Abdul Munim consolidated before Munim found some fluency that included several attractive boundaries. Ben was more circumspect and it was clear he had his ‘anchor the innings’ head on. The game drifted along as the home side went into defensive mode very early with at times 7 or 8 men on the boundary. Munim got a ball that lifted horribly of a length and he nicked behind for a very well made 39.

Munim’s wicket brought Syed Hassan to the crease and the new number 4 was to play as well as we’ve seen all season. With Syed playing aggressively striking several boundaries and Ben ticking the board over the Harlow innings began to take an increasingly positive shape as the pair added over a hundred for the third wicket taking the total to 211-2 with 4 overs left.

Syed fell attempting to crash another boundary, bowled for an excellent 68. Having passed 50 Ben also began to score at will producing several slog sweeps that troubled the passing traffic in Woodford High Road. He benefitted from two dropped chances to bring up another century in an incredible season of run scoring before also perishing (for 106) trying to launch the ball out the ground. There was still time for Tom Garner to hit 14 including two maximums in just 5 balls as Harlow posted a very useful 240-6 in 50 overs.

What looked a par or potentially better than par score began to look rather light as the Woodford Green openers gorged themselves on the Harlow bowling. Jake had taken an aggressive field up option seeking wickets but with some less an accurate bowling the score board rattled along at an alarming rate despite Abi Farooq producing a fine spell of hostile pace (0-18 in 7 overs).

At 136-0 after 21 overs the game looked dead and buried. Star batsmen Kazmi and Hafiz still had their feet up enjoying the spectacle and all looked lost. Captain Jake pulled off a fine catch from the bowling of Whitworth to dismiss Hussain for a fine 50 but even when Messenger himself had the other opener (Palmer) caught behind for 86 from 60 odd deliveries all looked lost.

One has to give the side enormous credit as from 164-2 and staring down the barrel they turned the game on it’s head. Whitworth brilliantly had Hafiz caught and bowled for just 2 and two balls later got new batsman (another Palmer) to edge to the slip area where Ben Yeats pulled off a staggering diving one handed grab. Belief was coursing through the Harlow veins but many an eye brow (in the score box) was raised when Head Coach Luke Heskett encouraged the use of 6’8″ Max Baulcomb to bowl from the end offering variable bounce. I think even Max would accept the tag of part time bowler (this was his first bowl of the season) but would you believe it, in his second over he found lift off a length to cause Green’s best player Husnan Kazmi to tickle a fine edge through to keeper Garner for 21.

Credit to the Woodford captain who walked despite the umpire clearly showing a high degree of reluctance to give him out. A very good player and a very fine sportsman.

Suddenly the joviality of the home side on the boundary had gone as the score board to their left had turned to 164-5 within 2 overs. Fred Marshall looked to blast through Harlow’s resistance but Messenger pocketed a good boundary catch (again off the bowling of Chris Whitworth) to dismiss him for 28 but at 204-6 with over 10 overs left Harlow were massive underdogs again.

Sarfaraz Ahmed had received some hammer early on but returned from the alternative end to strike twice in 2 overs to again turn the game on it’s head. At 219-8 it was now clear we would watch a cliff hanger to the finish. Dave Roberts looked to be nursing his side carefully to the win when with only 10 needed he tried to pull Whitworth off the back foot and was bowled giving Chris his first 5 wicket haul for the club.

Two overs to go. 10 runs needed and one wicket left. No one had money on the draw. The Green tail enders milked four from Sarfaraz’s final over needing 6 to win from the last over of the day bowled by Whitworth. The first five deliveries were all just outside off stump, all received an almighty hack from number 10 Hussain. All were missed. So down to the final ball with all results still possible. Chris tossed it up Hussain hacked cross batted and clothed it along the floor to cow corner for a single. Frankly, both sides looked gutted.

When the dust had settled, Harlow could reflect on a superb fight back from certain defeat. I think it was these pages that demanded the side show some character and fight last week and they did exactly that with bat, ball and in the field. As the last sunshine began to weaken over the edges of Epping Forest nearby, it was the home side who were left to reflect on just how they had failed to win a game they had in the palm of their hand. Harlow received 12 points for their efforts and Woodford Green 6. Harlow drop one place to 7th but actually gained points on the sides behind them for what is now the all important top 10 finish to ensure Division 3 cricket next season. This was much more like it lads!!

Chris Whitworth 5-71 (16), Sarfaraz Ahmed 2-47 (11), Max Baulcomb 1-14 (3), Jake Messenger 1-49 (4)

To Marigolds where Harry Burtons’s side entertained a struggling Wickford team in a must win game to ensure mid table safety was maintained. With numbers a little thin on the ground Harry made a number of call ups including Third XI stalwart Arshad Muhammed. What a day the hugely likeable opening batsman was to have!

Arshad formed the bedrock of his sides impressive 291-8 making a wonderful 111. There would have been many a tear in the eye as he reached three figures batting out on Marigolds and for a guy who always has a friendly persona one can only imagine how broad that smile was under his batting helmet having achieved such a milestone. John Allen (33) and Asad Baig (35) offered good support with Jake Hikmatshah hammering a super aggressive 42 not out and Jack Sykes 25 for late innings runs to boost the imposing total.

The outcome hinged on whether Harlow could take all 10 Wickford wickets to secure the win in the ‘Time Format’. The early signs were very good with the Hikmatshah brothers taking early scalps. Wickets fell at regular intervals as Amir Farooq, Tyler Dobson and Jack Sykes all struck but it was the brothers doing the heavy damage. Nevertheless, what was at one stage looking like a comfortable win was placed in serious jeopardy by late order resistance. As Wickford’s last wicket stand grew and grew the alarm was ringing loudly in Harlow’s ears.

By the penultimate over things had reached a critical stage. Two set batsmen and a one wicket needed for a vital 25 points. Thankfully, up stepped the youth of Farhad Hikmatshah to cause last man, Ryan Madder, to go aerial and veteran John Allen safely pouched the catch to ensure a very important win.

Jake Hikmatshah 3-39 (12), Farhad Hikmatshah 3-38 (6.3), Tyler Dobson 1-21 (5), Jack Sykes 1-29 (5) and Amir Farooq 1-71 (15)

Over one Spicers the Third XI faced Brentwood as Riz and his side sought to defend their top of the table position.

Brentwood won the toss and decided to bat first. Aju grabbed two early wickets but the visitors recovered well from 98-5 with some fine middle and late order batting to reach a very decent 240-9.

Sunni and Aju took 3 wickets each whilst Syed Ahsen Ali snared a brace. With numbers thin on the ground Rizwan himself bowled 12 overs taking a wicket. A game very much in the balance at the half way stage.

Aju 3-38 (10), Sunni 3-54 (15.4), Syed Ali 2-52 (7.2) and Rizwan 1-47 (12)

The Harlow run chase was dominated by opener Atif Mustehsan. Despite the loss of four cheap wickets, Atif offered stern resistance to the Brentwood bowling as he built a partnership with Muhammed Omar (21) before partaking in a match winning pairing with Sunni Ali. The pair dragged their side to victory in a superbly timed run chase. Atif ended with a wonderful unbeaten 107 and Sunni 61* to record yet another Third XI win.

Sadly, Upminster and Wanstead both recorded almost identical victories to that achieved by Harlow to ensure no change at the top of the table. Harlow lead by 17 points with 6 games left in the season.

Finally to the Whitbread Sports Ground where Nathan took his 4th XI to play Loughton 3rd XI. Short on regular bowling options the 4’s did well to bowl the opposition out for 210 in 38 overs. Wickets were shared across the entire attack.

Nathan McCarthy 3-74 (13), George Jessey 2-31 (6.2), Myles Baldock 1-15 (5), Mustafa Zaman 1-20 (5), Libby Riddell 1-25 (4) and Harris Hamid 1-33 (5)

Alas, the Harlow run chase was a bit of a car crash. Only Harris Hamid (27) made double figures as we crashed to 77 all out. Loughton jump above Harlow who drop to third from bottom with an 11 point gap to the drop zone. Work needed to secure some wins to pull away from danger but one must always remember this is the Fourth XI playing in Third XI Division 2 so very much above a normal level of play for most 4th XI teams.