FOR the majority of this season it looked as if Harlow had found a batting line up the equal of any in the past decade. Frequent scores approaching 300 and some challenging run chases overcome, often with ease, had given hope of a new dawn in our cricket leading to a fight towards the final weeks for promotion. In the space of two weeks that aspiration has disappeared in smoke (or perhaps the clatter of wickets). 

The stroke making freedom and consistent churning of runs has been replaced in a fortnight with a shambles of hesitancy and poor shot selection. To everyone’s surprise the batting has returned to the dark times of the 2021 season. Defeat today, at Marigolds to struggling West Essex, was arguably a poorer performance than that of the previous week. No pitch gremlins to blame this time around. Even with the late absence of Chris Whitworth (illness) could not excuse this suboptimal effort with the bat.

Having won the toss Harlow took the brave, but right, decision to bat first and look to make up lost ground with a 25 point win. Even at 69-2 a decent 250 type score looked possible until leading run scorer Ben Yeats was castled by one that kept low (although a player of his ability will know he should have been forward not back). Ben’s 24 turned out to be the highest of the innings as the middle and lower order subsided to 112 all out. Only Tom Garner (22) was able to make any score of remote significance. 

Credit where it’s due, Harlow gave everything in the field and had the visitors wobbling at 44- 4 with a brace each for Sarfaraz Ahmed and Jake Messenger but inevitably one decent partnership was enough to reach the low requirement. Yeats took the late wicket of Muhammed Adnan who made 60 but the 5 wicket defeat sees Harlow slip down to 6th in the table and with an ever narrowing gap to 11th and the unthinkable drop into the new Division 4 next season.

The club have invested admirably in this side and now it’s time for them to gather themselves and fight tooth and nail for every win and every point. They have proved they have the ability – now is the time to show they have the character required of genuine First XI cricketers. 

The news from the Second XI was little better as they lost by 9 wickets away at league leaders Epping. Very little information on this game to date but Dip Basnet made 40 odd before being run out in bizarre circumstances, wandering down to chat to Matt Hart at the other end, and Jack Sykes 30ish. Harlow totalled 163 which was easily knocked off by the home side despite a wicket for Farhad Hikmatshah.

Much better news (thank heavens!) from Rizwan and his Super 3’s. An excellent all round bowling and fielding effort restricted Harold Wood to just 128 all out. The skipper was delighted with all of his attack. Sunni (0-18) and Aju (2-38) took early wickets and kept it tight before Matt Fisk (3-30), Ibtisam Baig (2-18), Ben Seary (2-18) and Tyler Dobson (1-0 from 4 overs which were all maidens) ran through the batting.

Jon Allen (43) and Atif Mustehsan (33) got Harlow well in control of the run chase and Ben Seary capped a fine individual performance by striking an undefeated 29 to clinch the win by 7 wickets. 

Harlow remain top of the table but credit to rivals Upminster who managed to chase down 311 at Ilford when for a long time it looked like our side would be building up a handy lead in the league standings.

Spicers saw a tight game between Harlow 4th XI and Harold Wood which the visitors were to win by 3 wickets. Batting first Harlow made a useful 220 all out with half centuries for Ronnie Fuller and 13 year old Alfie Jessey (pictured) who made his maiden adult 50. Captain Nathan McCarthy made 43 and Harris Hamid 20 and for a long time it looked like our efforts would be sufficient for a much needed victory.

Jack Fuller and Zain Hamoard both struck early but resistance grew the further down the batting line up Harlow got. Libby Riddell and George Jessey took two wickets each and Nathan one but with the game in the balance a late eighth wicket stand took Wood to the win in an entertaining match.