Harlow First XI completed a weekend to dream of as they once again fought like tigers with the bat to emerge victorious in their Dukes Essex League Plate Cup semi final.

In front of a large and vociferous crowd it was once again a heroic rear guard from the lower order that saw Harlow over the line. For so much of this season players have gone weeks without being required to bat as the top order players have dominated the opposition. When required in two crucial fixtures this weekend those in the middle and lower order excelled.

It seems like months have passed since Harlow won a toss and predictably they lost another as opponents Frenford elected to bat first.

Leading wicket taker, Joe Riddell, was quickly into his work striking with three early wickets to rock the visitors. Chaudhary and Rehman steadied the Frenford ship before Chris Whitworth bowled the former for 18.

Rehman and Shahzad then added 67 together helping Frenford recover to 131-4 when Harlow skipper Ben Yeats impacted on the match to swing the game back in favour of the hosts. Firstly, he took a sharp low catch off his own bowling to dismiss Rehman for 45 and then took a diving catch in the outfield from the bowling of George Jessey to see the back of Shahzad for 26.

Seventeen year old Jessey was bowling beautifully but it was his athletic ability in the field that was to the fore as he ran out Frenford skipper Amin leaving them 165-7.

Jack Fuller had also produced some of his best work maintains good economy and he took the all important wicket of danger man Bhalerao for 30 aided by an excellent catch running backwards by Gull Hassan.

Whitworth and Jessey then combined to wrap up the innings for 208 as Harlow jogged off to enjoy a well earned tea.

Riddell 3-32, Umar Raza 0-22, Whitworth 2-26, Fuller 1-35, Yeats 1-39 and Jessey 2-36.

In reply, Harlows innings had barely started when they lost Whitworth and promising youngster, Billy Clark, to attempted aggressive boundary shots.

Yeats looked comfortable at one end but he was losing partners all too frequently as Hakimi and Alfie Jessey both were adjudged lbw to the surprise of pretty much everyone in attendance.

The introduction of left arm spinner Bhalero appeared to turn the match Frenfords way when he bowled Yeats for 36 with one that kept low.

Harlow were in difficulty but Gull Hassan (41) and Umar Raza (18) pushed the home team towards the target only to both perish in quick succession. The game was in the balance when Jack Fuller smashed 22 in 9 balls before being caught on the boundary with 38 still required.

Joe Riddell looked the calmest man in the district nudging singles and running hard and he and Harlow Second XI skipper Amir Farooq edged Harlow ever closer.

Frenford threw the kitchen sink using all their primary bowlers but the Harlow duo magnificently held firm. Farooq superbly drove seamer Ejaz to the boundary leaving just 7 to win but only two wickets in hand.

The pair ran sharp singles off spinner Khurshid before Riddell planted two deliveries to the offside boundary to clinch victory and a place in the final.

A cup final at Wickford awaits on 12th September against the host club who beat Shenfield in a high scoring contest in the other semi final.

With Harlow one win from promotion in the league and a cup final to follow 2026 could become one of the most successful seasons for many a year for the club’s premier outfit.