Harold Wood won the toss and elected to field

Result – Harold Wood won by 7 wickets

HARLOW were put into bat by a Harold Wood team desperate for a win to bolster their promotion ambitions. Hafiz got Harlow off to a great start smashing the first ball of the game through the covers for 4. Thereafter Hafiz and Alan Jones played more circumspectly, with plenty of dot balls interspersing the boundaries. There was symmetry in the innings and dismissal of the openers: both scored 19, hit 4 boundaries, faced about 35 balls and then caught behind by the keeper, Craig Perrin. Rehman Ahmed and Ahmed Khawaja were united with Harlow on 39-2, and set about rebuilding the Harlow innings with purpose. Khawaja (20) was going at better than a run-a-ball before dancing down the wicket to Waqas Shafique and being bowled. Rehman looking in particularly good form and was the dominant force in the partnership with Jon Perry. The loss of Perry (16) and Zabi Hakimi (3), both caught by the keeper, left Harlow rather floundering at 145-5. When Rehman was dismissed for a well constructed 77, including 12 boundaries, Harlow seemed destined for a sub-par score. A great rearguard action by Nicky Baxter (44 not out off only 31 balls) and Mustanser Meraj (23) dragged Harlow up to a reasonably competitive 233-8 off 50 overs. Baxter’s innings includes six 4s and one 6.

The early wicket Harlow craved was delivered by Meraj, who’s pace was too much for Shihan (0), the opener splicing the ball up for Hakimi to take an easy catch. Perrin (10) soon followed in a similar dismissal, this time caught by Sykes off the bowling of Mitch Howarde, leaving Harold Wood on 37-2. Harlow had hopes on making inroads into the visitors batting but Raihan Hussain and Shahbaz Khan produced a partnership of 126 that was as impressive as it was decisive. The pair batted with class and controlled aggression, accumulating runs when the bowling was tight but being unforgiving on anything loose. With the score on 163 Khan (67) hit the ball to Khawaja down at third-man and went for an overambitious second run; Khawaja’s throw was hard and accurate, too good for the diving Khan. Maruf Chowdbury signalled his intent by smashing his first ball for 4. He then proceeded to hit 45 off only 26 balls to ease the visitors to victory. It was fitting that Hussain, the outstanding batsman on the day, reached his century just before the close: his 100 not out included twelve 4s and came off only 113 balls.

The result consolidates Harold Wood’s challenge for promotion but leaves Harlow needing points against Fives next week to avoid any final day jitters.