North Enfield Cricket Club’s Friendly XI picked up a brace of victories over the weekend at Strayfield Road, courtesy of some impressive contributions all round.

Their reshuffled batting line-up posted 181 - 5 in their 45 run victory over Bengeo on Saturday, before they snuck home to a dramatic one wicket win over North Weald on Sunday.

Kieran Jones’ 4 - 14 up front with the ball against Bengeo snuffed out any real chances of the visitors chasing 182 for victory in 35 overs.

His combination of right and left arm spin helped reduce Bengeo to 42 - 5, allowing North Enfield to chip away with further wickets throughout the innings.

Despite a fighting half-century from Bengeo’s number five, Will Grisedale picked up the tenth wicket in the final over to conclude North Enfield’s 45 run victory.

Contributions throughout their batting effort had earlier seen them post what proved to be an unassailable total of 181 - 5.

After a solid start, a fourth wicket partnership of 57 between Oliver Munt (36) and Freddie Pearson (14) and an unbroken stand of 71 between Tom Coughlan (38*) and David Malleson (21*) pushed them up past 180 at the backend of their innings.

Meanwhile, a last wicket partnership between Malleson and Richard Sanders saw North Enfield to a nail-biting one wicket victory over North Enfield from the penultimate delivery of the match.

With four runs required from the final over, Malleson (8*) and veteran number 11 Sanders (1*) exchanged singles, before Malleson pulled a four to seal the victory.

North Enfield’s chase of 195 had earlier got off to a brilliant start, as destructive opener Ishan Tilakaratna (49) dominated a 66 run stand for the first wicket with William Munt (84).

Alongside Munt, contributions from William Halley (9) and a more than useful cameo from Joe Murphy (14) took them to the brink of victory, before the experience of Malleson and Sanders saw them over the line.

North Enfield had earlier managed to drag North Weald back, after the visitors made a fast start to their innings.

Despite a wicket apiece from Malleson and Pearson, North Weald were 110 - 2 at the halfway stage and looked set to post in excess of 200.

However, some tight bowling and fielding in the second half restricted North Weald to just 84 runs from their final 20 overs and a total of 194 - 6 from their 40 overs, which ultimately proved not to be enough.
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North Enfield’s season concludes next Saturday with the visit of the Serbian Sloggers to Strayfield Road.

Image: Amy Brandon

North Enfield Cricket Club’s 1st XI finished their season in style with a clinical six wicket victory at Northampton Exiles on Saturday in Division 4B of the Hertfordshire Premier Cricket League.

​109 from vice-captain Kieran Jones and 52 from skipper Ishan Tilakaratna saw them ease to their target of 249 with 4.3 overs remaining, after they had earlier restricted the hosts to 248 - 5 from their 50 overs.

North Enfield’s run chase got off to a solid start, with Jones dominating a 129 run stand for the first wicket with William Munt (129), before James Scott added increased impetus with a quickfire 11.

However, the 90 run partnership between Jones and Tilakaratna proved to be the final nail in the Northampton Exiles coffin, taking North Enfield to 11 runs from victory.

With Jones continuing to play the anchor role and Tilakaratna regularly finding the boundary, the visitors were soon able to put the result beyond any doubt.

A pull through the leg side for four brought Jones his fifth century of the league season, along with four half-centuries, as well as his 50th century for the club.

Tilakaratna reached an impressive fourth league half-century of the season, whilst Jones was able to walk off having scored 1,032 league runs at an average of 103.20 after chopping on.

Despite Tilakaratna following him back to the pavilion, Steve Gandy (8*) powered two fours through the leg side to secure the victory and a more than respectable fifth placed finish for his side.

North Enfield had earlier managed to keep Northampton Exiles in check with the ball and prevent them reaching an unassailable total.

After a couple of early strikes from Gandy and Oliver Munt, they were frustrated by a 109 run partnership for the third wicket, until Jones found the crucial breakthrough.

With O. Munt picking up two further wickets at the backend of the innings, North Enfield were able to wrestle back some momentum and curb any Exiles acceleration.

Elsewhere, the club’s 2nd XI lost to Botany Bay by five wickets, despite 78* from Andy Corgan, whilst the Friendly XI triumphed over Wheathampstead by 37 runs thanks to 84 from Ishan Tilakaratna.

Image: Will Grisedale

North Enfield Cricket Club’s league sides suffered a frustrating Saturday in the Hertfordshire Premier Cricket League, through a combination of a disappointing result and the elements.

The club’s 1st XI lost out to Luton Town & Indians by nine wickets at Strayfield Road, whilst the 2nd XI’s chase of 130 at Bentley Heath was prematurely curtailed by rain.

Promotion chasing Luton Town made the most of bowler friendly conditions after winning the toss to wrap up a quickfire victory in Division 4B.

They completed their chase of 82 in just nine overs, after skittling their hosts for 81 in extremely difficult conditions for batting.
With the imminent threat of rain and despite an early wicket from Steve Gandy, Luton Town romped home with 41 overs remaining to claim the 30 points.

North Enfield had earlier failed to recover from slipping to 35 - 7, as only Gandy (26) and Tom Coughlan (19*) reached double figures.

After such a difficult start, the aforementioned pair saw North Enfield to 62 - 7, before they lost their last three wickets for 18 runs and limped to 80.

Despite the defeat, North Enfield are still in with a chance of a top five finish, if they win at Northampton Exiles next Saturday and results go their way.

Elsewhere, rain at Bentley Heath prevented what promised to be a dramatic finish, with North Enfield’s 2nd XI 75 - 6 in their chase of 130.

With captain Garry Orton (33*) still at the crease alongside Ben Greenfield (1*) and 13 overs remaining, the game appeared to be going right down to the wire, only for the elements to intervene.

A brilliant performance with the ball and in the field had earlier allowed them to limit their hosts to 129 in 36.2 overs.

Otis Halley (3 - 35) and Joe Murphy (3 - 36) claimed three wickets apiece as North Enfield dismissed their visitors for a potentially chaseable total, only for the rain to prevent them from having a complete shot at a second consecutive victory.

The 2nd XI conclude their Division 9 East campaign with a home fixture against Botany Bay next weekend.
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Meanwhile, 150* from Kieran Jones and four wickets from Freddie Pearson saw the club’s Friendly XI defeat Red Square Lions by 117 runs on Sunday.

North Enfield Cricket Club’s 1st XI secured their Division 4B status for 2026 in the Hertfordshire Premier Cricket League with a six wicket victory at Reed on Saturday.
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Half centuries from Kieran Jones (88*) and James Scott (54) saw them cruise to their target of 240 with 6.4 overs to spare.
Their run chase initially got off to a tricky start, with the early loss of William Munt (7) and Keith Alexander (2).

Jones continued to tick along at the other end though and shared a 107 run partnership with Tom Coughlan (48) to steady North Enfield after a difficult start.

When Jones reached his half century, North Enfield were in control, only for the dismissal of Coughlan to bring Reed right back into the game.

However, an onslaught from Scott soon after arriving at the crease then turned the tide in the visitors’ favour one final time and propelled them to the 30 points.

Opting to take down Reed’s spinner, Scott struck him for three massive sixes, including one onto the roof of Reed’s clubhouse, in addition to clubbing another over long on.

With four fours accompanying his four sixes, Scott raced to his own half century and when he was eventually caught after skying one up in the air, having shared a 94 stand with Jones, just two more runs were required for victory.

Captain Ishan Tilakaratna (1*) fittingly sealed the victory with a single through cover and confirmed his side’s spot in Division 4B for a second consecutive season.

North Enfield had earlier done well to pull Reed back and dismiss them for 239, when they had once seemed well on course for 300.

The pivotal moment was Reed’s number four retiring hurt with a back injury, when his side were 189 - 2, before Jones removed their opener for 83 in the very next over.

From that moment on, North Enfield were in the driving seat and Oliver Munt (3 - 48), Jones (3 - 41) and Coughlan (3 - 31) all claimed three wickets apiece to dismiss Reed for an under par total on a flat wicket.

Elsewhere, the club’s 2nd XI thrilling defeated Kimpton by just one run at Strayfield Road on Saturday, although the Friendly XI lost out to Pelicans by 110 runs on Sunday.

​North Enfield Cricket Club’s 1st XI suffered another agonising final ball defeat against Leverstock Green at Strayfield Road on Saturday in Division 4B of the Hertfordshire Premier Cricket League.

Richard Lee was cruelly run out attempting the second run that would have tied the game for North Enfield, as they succumbed to a devastating one run defeat.

Chasing 171 for victory, they were in all sorts of trouble at 25 - 3, amidst an outstanding opening spell of bowling from the visitors.

After being on just 44 - 3 at the halfway stage, a flurry of boundaries from Garry Orton (27) and an aggressive James Scott (20) cameo manoeuvred North Enfield back into a position from where they could win the game, as stand-in skipper Kieran Jones calmly ticked along at the other end.

As Jones reached yet another half century and Andrew Pearson (15) found the rope on a couple of occasions, the hosts were just able to keep in touch with the required run rate.

An emphatic Jones six from the first ball of the penultimate over swung the momentum back towards North Enfield, but when he was run out for 73 in the final over, the task ultimately proved too much for North Enfield as they fell just short of the win.

A disciplined display with the ball and in the field had earlier allowed them to dismiss their visitors for 170 in the final over of their innings.

With Oliver Munt (2 - 43) removing the dangerman early and Freddie Pearson bowling beautifully without reward, they were able to keep Leverstock’s run rate in check.
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Lee (3 - 25), Jones (3 - 31) and David Malleson (2 - 22) all chipped away throughout the innings, alongside another wicket for Munt, to prevent Leverstock from powering up to a total closer to 200.

However, when faced with some impressive bowling and a tricky wicket, North Enfield just came up short, although picked up 14 points from their endeavours to remain in fifth.
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Elsewhere, the club’s Friendly XI claimed a dramatic 11 run victory over the Fearless Lions of West Ham on Sunday, with Johnwesley Prashanth picking up the final wicket to spark jubilant celebrations at Strayfield Road.

​North Enfield Cricket Club’s 1st XI claimed 16 points from a fighting performance at
table-topping Mill Hill Village to remain fifth in Division 4B of the Hertfordshire
Premier Cricket League.

Captain Ishan Tilakaratna’s boundary laden 99 had given his side an outside shot at
victory, only for them to be dismissed on 194 in reply to Mill Hill’s earlier 259 all out.

Tilakaratna came to the crease with his side five wickets down and in relatively
serious trouble, but soon set about looking to replicate his counter-attacking 64 from
the two side’s previous meeting this season.

With Tom Coughlan remaining resolute at the other end, North Enfield’s skipper
struck 18 boundaries in his destructive innings, which included 12 fours and six
sixes.

Having already brought up a third half century of the league season, Tilakaratna was
then denied a deserved, maiden 1st XI century in the cruellest fashion - courtesy of
an outrageous diving catch from the fielder round the corner.
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The loss of their captain and a few further quick wickets meant that the game was
almost up for North Enfield and despite Coughlan remaining unbeaten on 48, they
ultimately suffered a 65-run victory.
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Tilakaratna (3 - 45) and vice-captain Kieran Jones (4 - 50) had earlier led a North
Enfield fightback with the ball, as they reduced their hosts from 205 - 5 to 259 all out.

Despite having chipped away with two wickets from Steve Gandy and one from
Abbie Jones, North Enfield were still in a somewhat precarious position, until K.
Jones struck the double blow of removing Mill Hill’s destructive number five and their
well-set opener.

From there on, Tilakaratna and K. Jones shared the remaining five wickets between
them to restrict Mill Hill to 259, after they had potentially been set for a much larger
total.

Although they eventually came up short, North Enfield’s return of six batting and
seven bowling points was still satisfactory, given the context of a visit to their
division’s form side.
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Elsewhere, the club’s 2nd XI lost to Ware by 90 runs, with the 1st XI hosting
Leverstock Green next weekend and the 2nd XI hosting Tewin.

North Enfield Cricket Club’s 1st XI lost out to Stevenage in a last over thriller at Strayfield Road on Saturday in Division 4B of the Hertfordshire Premier Cricket League.

Chasing 214 for victory, the hosts ended up on 208 - 8 and lost by just five runs, after winning a similarly close fixture by the same margin against Preston last weekend.

With a six required from the final delivery to tie the game, North Enfield only managed one and were forced to settle for 15 points from their efforts.

After Kieran Jones (20) was bowled by a delivery that kept low and Chris Gillman (28) was stumped relatively early on, North Enfield were sitting relatively pretty at 153 - 2 in the 38th over, courtesy of a 98 run partnership between William Munt (50) and Tom Coughlan (49).

However, when Coughlan was trapped LBW and both captain Ishan Tilakaratna (1) and Munt fell in quick succession, the hosts’ run chase stalled.

Steve Gandy (23) threatened to make them the favourites once again with a four and a six, but was run out attempting to keep the strike in the penultimate over.

The task ultimately proved too much for North Enfield, as they only musted four runs from the final over, rather than the required 10.

A 77 run partnership for the seventh wicket had earlier allowed Stevenage to propel themselves past 200 and what would eventually prove to be a winning total.
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Despite a couple of sharp Keith Alexander stumpings off the bowling of Kieran Jones late on and a tight final over from Coughlan, the visitors were able to finish on 213 - 8.

North Enfield were on top at multiple points of the Stevenage innings, with the score at 31 - 2 and then 123 - 6, as Oliver Munt (2 - 29) made the early breakthroughs and Jones (3 - 30) chipped away through the middle overs.
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A late flourish from their opponents though meant that Stevenage left with the maximum points and a disappointed home contingent.

​Elsewhere, the club’s 2nd XI lost to Bamville by five wickets, whilst William Munt made 100* and Tom Coughlan 55* in an entertaining draw for the club’s Friendly XI at Nazeing Common on Sunday.

North Enfield Cricket Club’s 1st XI put in a thrilling comeback with the ball and in the field at Strayfield Road on Saturday to claim a five run victory over Preston.

A third five wicket haul of the season for Kieran Jones (5 - 27) helped them restrict Preston to 200 - 7 from their 50 overs, after the visitors had been going well at 125 - 0.

Jones’ performance with the ball followed another masterclass with the bat, as he compiled a quality 107* on a slow surface - his fourth league century of the season.

The Preston openers had appeared to be guiding their side to a comfortable victory, only for a Tom Coughlan run out and Jones’ first wicket to reduce them from 125 - 0 to 127 - 2 and bring North Enfield right back into the game.

A further double strike from K. Jones, whilst Abbie Jones built the pressure at the other end, further ramped up the pressure on the visitors and the aforementioned duo combined for a run out to leave Preston 177 - 5.

With close to a run-a-ball required for the last five overs, Coughlan and K. Jones bowled brilliantly to prevent the Preston batters from regularly finding the boundary, assisted by some impressive fielding.

K. Jones then provided the game with the champagne ending it deserved, claiming two wickets in the final over to complete his five wicket haul and cap off a remarkable North Enfield comeback victory by just five runs.

Prior to his bowling heroics, K. Jones had earlier guided North Enfield to what proved to be an insurmountable total.
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After putting on 75 with Chris Gillman (37) and 65 with William Munt (25), he reached a serene century as North Enfield progressed towards 200.

An unbroken stand of 56 with Coughlan (13*) ultimately steered the hosts to 205 - 3, which eventually proved to be just enough, after a nail-biting finish.
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Elsewhere, the club’s 2nd XI lost by seven wickets at Old Cholmeleians on Saturday, before the Friendly XI lost another thriller by one run on Sunday.

Kieran Jones is applauded off by Preston, after making a brilliant 107* on a slow surface, with this century being his fourth of the season.

North Enfield Cricket Club’s Friendly XI put in a solid all-round performance against Cockfosters on Sunday to claim a 31 run victory.

David Malleson claimed 5 - 30 as North Enfield restricted the hosts to 159 - 9 from their 35 overs, after Chris Gillman’s fine 129* had earlier seen them post 187 - 2.

Despite Gillman affecting an early run out, Cockfosters were going well in their pursuit of 188 and reached 85 - 1, before Malleson and Tom Coughlan (2 - 20) turned the game back towards North Enfield.


Malleson started the visitors’ comeback by claiming two wickets in the same over, before then repeating the feat after Coughlan had cleaned up Cockfosters’ number five.

The result of the match then looked to be a forgone conclusion, when Malleson capped an outstanding spell of bowling with his fifth wicket from his final delivery and Coughlan took his second via a routine caught and bowled.

Having slipped from 85 - 1 to 122 - 8, Cockfosters were unable to put any real pressure on North Enfield at the backend of their innings, but managed to bat through their 35 overs, despite Otis Halley claiming his side’s ninth wicket.

Gillman had earlier lit up a rather overcast day with a beautifully paced innings that propelled North Enfield to a total that ultimately proved to be well over par.

After a controlled start, he burst into life after passing 50 and found the boundary with increasing ease.

The fall of fellow opener William Munt (31) to end a 92 run first wicket partnership seemed to spur Gillman on to cause further carnage, as he struck three of his four sixes consecutively and went on to reach a 14th century for the club.

Alongside Garry Orton (18*), he then ensured that North Enfield finished with a flourish, finding the fence on several more occasions to finish on 129* from just 115 deliveries.

Having been put into bat, North Enfield’s 187 - 2 seemed a great effort at the time and proved to be all the more so, as they then bowled themselves to a 31 run victory.
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Elsewhere, both the club’s league sides saw their Saturday encounters cancelled, following heavy rainfall over the early part of the weekend.

Chris Gillman salutes the crowd, after making an unbeaten 129 against Cockfosters.

North Enfield Cricket Club’s 1st XI put up a fighting performance with the bat at Strayfield Road on Saturday to rescue 20 points from their 56 run defeat to Northampton Exiles.

An extraordinary 209 run partnership for the seventh wicket between Kieran Jones (134*) and Callum Mackay (101) dragged them from 71 - 6 to 297 - 7, in reply to the visitors’ 353 all out.

Mackay joined Jones with his side in dire straits, after a string of single figure scores from the top seven, with Zane Green the only other batter to reach double figures (16).

With Jones as reliable as ever in his familiar anchor role, Mackay initially took time to find his feet out in the middle and adjust to the conditions.

However, once he had done so, the runs started to flow from both ends and the partnership started to flourish, as both batters passed 50.

Jones was then able to reach a brilliant third century of his side’s league campaign, whilst Mackay started to go through the gears, with an audacious ramp for four being a particular highlight.

Despite the prospect of victory fading away, Mackay was still able to bring the home faithful to their feet, as he reached a splendid maiden century for the club.

When he eventually fell for 101, Freddie Pearson ably supported Jones to guide the hosts to just shy of 300, after they had already ensured the maximum 20 points that can be gained in defeat.
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North Enfield had earlier been made to pay for missed opportunities in the field, as the Exiles piled on the runs in seemingly unrelenting fashion.

After a well compiled 68 from their opener, their number three hit the ball to all parts in a brutal 138, well and truly taking the game away from North Enfield.

To their credit though, they fought back well, with Pearson claiming 4 - 65 and Jones 3 - 79 as the Exiles slipped from 300 - 3 to 353 all out, as North Enfield finished the day positively, both with bat and ball.
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Elsewhere, the club’s Friendly XI lost out to the Chairman’s XI in the annual intra-club game at Strayfield Road on Sunday.

Callum Mackay walks off after making his maiden century (101) for the club.