One of the key factors likely to dictate the sides fortune this year will be the batting at the top of the order from skipper Ben Yeats and Chris Whitworth. In their Dukes Essex Cup Plate 2nd round tie away at Oakfield Parkonians the pair added 180 for the first wicket as they sought to chase down the home sides 238-5 (40 overs).

Earlier in the day Parks were asked to bat first after Harlow won the toss. Prolific opening batsman, Faisal Bhatti, carried his bat making a fine 92 not out as he anchored the Parks innings. As well as he batted, Bhatti benefited from some profligate Harlow fielding as they missed clear run out opportunities when he was on 37 and 50 before dropping a spiralling catch when he had added 57.

Otherwise it was a decent effort in the field with some committed ground fielding and some later fine outfield catches from Oliver Allen, George Jessey and Muhammed Umar Raza. Jack Fuller bowled well taking 3-53 with Chris Whitworth the other wicket taker with 2-39. George Jessey bowled a better spell than his figures of 0-34 from 6 overs suggest and Muhammed Umar Raza produced 7 economical overs that cost just 31.

Parks closed on 238 after Chowdhry added a rapid 59 but Harlow would have been satisfied to restrict the scoring to a run a ball on a very batting friendly surface.

The Harlow innings was almost a blueprint for the perfect run chase. Yeats and Whitworth scored freely and were rarely troubled. Their 180 run partnership was only broken when Whitworth miscued pulling a short ball to depart for 83. Yeats continued progress partnered by Zabi Hakimi and reached his century with a typical classy on drive.

Hakimi fell with the winning line in sight for a steady 18 and with just 2 needed to clinch the win Yeats was stumped attempting to crash a winning boundary. Nevertheless his dismissal for 116 could not prevent a 6 wicket victory for Harlow who move into the latter stages with a mid summer Quarter Final at Marigolds against Roding Valley to look forward to.