Promotion chasing Harlow First XI entertained second bottom Barking at Marigolds on Saturday and despite an emphatic margin of victory they were made to dig deep.

In the latest time format fixture it made complete sense, having won the toss, to ask the visitors to bat first.

Harlow’s opening seamers, Joe Riddell and Muhammed Umar Raza, were both on the money with the new ball. Riddell bowled opposition skipper and danger man Qureshi for just 3 before Umar Raza dealt an instant double blow. One ball after dismissing Afzal leg before for 9 he produced a snorting delivery that reared up and took Sheikh’s glove and keeper Alfie Jessey pouched the catch.

At 30-3 Harlow were all over their opponent so huge credit must go to Gul Zaman Shahzad and Z. Hasan for their partnership that initially held back the tide and grew to being a serious threat to the home sides unbeaten run.

It was not until Barking had reached 173-3 that Shahzad finally fell for 106 with a total of 300 looking a genuine possibility. It was to Harlow’s collective credit that Riddells breakthrough led to a major fight back from Harlow as they wrestled back control of the match.

Indicative of their fine efforts in the field despite the scorching temperatures Harlow used the opportunity of the wicket to drive home the advantage of new batsmen at the crease. Riddell forced Khan to chip to George Jessey who held a good catch before the skipper, Ben Yeats, produced a decisive spell of off spin.

Yeats trapped Samuel lbw and next ball bowled Bidiwala before making Sultan his third victim in short succession. Nevertheless, Barking added runs quickly and passed the 200 mark before Chris Whitworth returned and snared the final two wickets.

234 all out in 42 overs was far better for Barking than the initial start had appeared to offer and yet far better a total to chase than Harlow were looking at mid innings. Maybe both sides were happy at the half way stage but local sages opined it looked 30 or 40 runs short of a par score.

Riddell 3-67, Umar Raza 2-24, G. Jessey 0-21, Whitworth 2-26, Messenger 0-21, J. Fuller 0-40 and Yeats 3-22.

Any nerves chasing a not insignificant total appeared to be eased when Ben Yeats calming stroked the opening ball off his legs for four. It was a blueprint for the start of the Harlow innings as the captain and Chris Whitworth repeatedly found the boundary as they marched imperiously towards the Barking total.

Such was the dominance of the prolific Harlow pair that it was quite a shock when Samuel bowled Yeats for 51 with a ball that shot low under the bat. Any hopes the visitors had of creating pressure on the home side was rapidly dispelled by Whitworth and new partner Zabi Hakimi.

Whitworth crashed the ball to all parts, including the pavilion roof several times whilst Hakimi was more watchful in his accumulation. Barking looked a beaten side long before Whitworth brought up his century (113*) and Hakimi his half century (61*) as Harlow cantered home by 9 wickets with 9 overs to spare.

Favourable results elsewhere, including a defeat for Leigh on Sea and a draw for Newham, extended Harlow’s advantage in the promotion slots. Six huge games to go but at this stage Harlow are a side with the bit firmly between their teeth.

Photo - Riddell, Whitworth, Hakimi and Umar Raza celebrate post match