Like a traumatic reoccurring nightmare, Harlow’s promotion chasing First XI were starring into the abyss of another miserable failure at Marigolds on Saturday.

At 72-7 there appeared little chance of saving themselves by repairing the damage of a chaotic batting performance. Having lost the toss they faced the challenge of a wicket containing several gremlins of uneven bounce but truth be told most of the home side had gifted their wickets away.

Abject amnesia towards batting basics appeared to be blowing Harlow’s chances and in all likelihood their dream of promotion as they were slumping to defeat against bottom of the table Stanford Le Hope. Only a stubborn 21 from Zabi Hakimi had shown a modicum of resistance. Meanwhile 20 miles away in North East London rivals Leigh on Sea were piling on the runs at Frenford to add to Harlows woes.

Step forward the unorthodox but often brilliant Umar Raza. You’ll not find his batting grip in any cricketing textbook but he dragged Harlow from the wreckage with a powerful display of hitting backed up superbly by his bowling counterparts.

Umar added a partnership of 82, more than doubling Harlow’s score, with Joe Riddell who made a fine 28 before offering seamer Higgins a return catch. The boundary hitting bonanza from Umar ended after he made a crucial 57.

Staggeringly, the hitting gauge was cranked up several notches higher by Harlow’s number 10 bat, youngster Jack Fuller. Fuller had already smashed Knight for a straight maximum before he launched a naval bombardment upon Stanfords Jack Carter. The spinner was hammered 6646 in consecutive balls before the opposition skipper had the last laugh with Jack only picking out Woodford at long on as Harlow closed on 208 all out.

A superb, irons out of the fire, recovery but with the pitch flattening out would it be enough?

Early wickets would be crucial and Harlow didn’t have to wait long as opening seamers Joe Riddell and Umar Raza both struck to remove batters Scutt and Willats. When Zabi Hakimi pulled out a fine catch at gully the visitors were themselves in the mire at 38-3.

First change seamer Jack Fuller replaced Riddell from the Old Town End and in his third over he made a game defining intervention. He jagged one off the seam to trap Ellis leg before and two balls later knocked back Carter’s stumps to remove arguably Stanfords best batsman for a duck.

De Jong remained a thorn in Harlow’s side as the home side exerted pressure on new batsmen at the other end. Radcliffe struck a stunning maximum that cleared the huge netting before miscuing aerially with Jake Messenger making a tough catch look routine.

The entire tide had turned in Harlow’s favour as they were unrelenting in the field. Oliver Allen launched a 60 yard throw from the boundary that almost ran out Page. As the ball ricocheted the batsmen attempted a second run only for Harlow skipper Yeats to swoop one handed and brilliantly rifle a side arm throw that ran the batsman out at the other end.

Chris Whitworth turned one through the defences of De Jong who departed for 49 and with him any last hope for the visitors. Jake Messenger then bowled last man Woodford as Harlow claimed a vital, and for so long an unlikely, victory.

Relief palpable. The post match debrief was conducted with only the odd eye turned to events in London. Leigh on Sea were coasting to victory, or so it seemed. In a crazy finish, Frenford somehow struck 70 in the last 6 overs to stun Harlow’s promotion rivals and alter the entire league table dynamic.

The dust settled on another climatic day of action with Harlow 30 points to the good and knowing that victory in Leigh next Saturday will be enough for that long awaited promotion to be confirmed.

Riddell 3-29, Umar Raza 1-28, Fuller 3-44, Whitworth 1-25 and Messenger 1-12.