Stevenage IV 208/9 (40) (J Murphy 4-52, K Jones 2-41)
North Enfield II 151/7 (40) (I Tilakaratna 21, A Pearson 20, O Scott 16, O Munt 10, A Jones 6*)
Result: Lost by 57 runs (14 pts)
The latest week of low availability saw Neil McHugh making his first NECC league appearance in possibly a decade, as an eventually full side travelled to Stevenage seeking a first away win of the season. On a council pitch with no sightscreens, no covers and overnight rain, it was a straightforward call to bowl when winning the toss.
The Olivers took the new ball and found a solid opening partnership tough to break - runs coming steadily on a track playing better than it looked. It took the introduction of J Murphy to give the away side what was initially a breakthrough before becoming a potentially match-winning spell. All of the top four fell, a smart caught behind for AP complemented with two good catches for N Munt & K Jones interspersed with a clean bowled. This brought the middle order to the crease under pressure, and as per last week an umpiring decision wasn't given which would prove costly - this week an obvious snick behind to AP which was probably audible to passengers on the low-flying aircraft. The reprieved batter took his score from 4 to 62, and despite wickets falling to D Gandy and K Jones (plus a late stumping off D Malleson) the total score of 208/9 was imposing.
The chase started slowly, with the captain struggling even more than usual against a young outswinging bowler - surviving two drops before being caught off a top-edge with the score on 38. S Halley joined K Jones and batted steadily through to reach drinks at 88/1 - leaving a run a ball for the final push. Unfortunately, the introduction of a leg-spinning bowler created a run of dot balls and the wickets of S Halley (16), O Scott (1) and A Pearson (19 inc several lovely reverse sweeps). With overs and recognised batting partners running out, K Jones fell to a catch at long off for a well-made 69, and there was just enough time for Neil to face the final ball for a 0*.
Results elsewhere were favourable to the 2s this week, and the side remains in 7th place with 2 matches remaining.
Catch of the Match: D Vanniasingham held his customary "skier for the season" at square leg (when the ball eventually fell back to Earth)
Champagne Moment: J Murphy completing a league 4 for on his first bowl for over a decade
Shot of the Day: A Pearson reverse-sweeping the leg-spinner to the third man boundary (more than once!)
North Enfield II 151/7 (40) (I Tilakaratna 21, A Pearson 20, O Scott 16, O Munt 10, A Jones 6*)
Result: Lost by 57 runs (14 pts)
The latest week of low availability saw Neil McHugh making his first NECC league appearance in possibly a decade, as an eventually full side travelled to Stevenage seeking a first away win of the season. On a council pitch with no sightscreens, no covers and overnight rain, it was a straightforward call to bowl when winning the toss.
The Olivers took the new ball and found a solid opening partnership tough to break - runs coming steadily on a track playing better than it looked. It took the introduction of J Murphy to give the away side what was initially a breakthrough before becoming a potentially match-winning spell. All of the top four fell, a smart caught behind for AP complemented with two good catches for N Munt & K Jones interspersed with a clean bowled. This brought the middle order to the crease under pressure, and as per last week an umpiring decision wasn't given which would prove costly - this week an obvious snick behind to AP which was probably audible to passengers on the low-flying aircraft. The reprieved batter took his score from 4 to 62, and despite wickets falling to D Gandy and K Jones (plus a late stumping off D Malleson) the total score of 208/9 was imposing.
The chase started slowly, with the captain struggling even more than usual against a young outswinging bowler - surviving two drops before being caught off a top-edge with the score on 38. S Halley joined K Jones and batted steadily through to reach drinks at 88/1 - leaving a run a ball for the final push. Unfortunately, the introduction of a leg-spinning bowler created a run of dot balls and the wickets of S Halley (16), O Scott (1) and A Pearson (19 inc several lovely reverse sweeps). With overs and recognised batting partners running out, K Jones fell to a catch at long off for a well-made 69, and there was just enough time for Neil to face the final ball for a 0*.
Results elsewhere were favourable to the 2s this week, and the side remains in 7th place with 2 matches remaining.
Catch of the Match: D Vanniasingham held his customary "skier for the season" at square leg (when the ball eventually fell back to Earth)
Champagne Moment: J Murphy completing a league 4 for on his first bowl for over a decade
Shot of the Day: A Pearson reverse-sweeping the leg-spinner to the third man boundary (more than once!)