A spirited Harlow First XI claimed their first league win of the season at the third attempt thanks to a fine team effort in the field. Spin was to prove crucial, with pace off the ball troubling visitors Frenford, backed up by some fine catching and fielding.

On a scorching day Harlow skipper, Ben Yeats, elected to bat first having won the toss. Yeats and Chris Whitworth added 67 for the first wicket before the captain departed LBW for 27 to the visitors overseas star Bhalerao.

When the fluent Whitworth joined his opening partner in the clubhouse for a run a ball 53 Harlow looked well placed at 89-2 but from this point the innings stalled and then staggered. Wickets tumbled and runs dried up as the tight Frenford bowling strangled the home batting.

Muhammed Umar Raza broke the shackles with an aggressive 32 but when paceman Shah took 2 wickets in two balls Harlow looked unlikely to post a competitive total. It was entirely thanks to an astonishing assault on the bowling from low order batter Jack Fuller that helped Harlow to a score of 212 all out. Fuller struck some fabulous shots including an enormous maximum that cleared the pavilion roof and added the following ball onto the roof tiles as he made 27.

Harlow looked short and when the London side smashed their way to 40-0 in just 5 overs a home victory looked long odds.

Muhammed Umar Raza was the pick of the home seamers and it was he who struck twice in the sixth over to change the course of the match. Skipper Yeats turned early to spin and Chris Whitworth immediately stemmed the flow of runs. Youngster Jack Fuller was introduced at the other end and his first delivery of the day was a peach that seamed and knocked over opener Akram for 23 when he was looking dangerous.

The following phase was dominated by the home spinners Whitworth, George Jessey and Yeats. Backed up by some athletic and committed fielding, most notably from keeper Alfie Jessey who took two excellent catches, the spin trio took wickets frequently as Frenford collapsed. George Jessey bowled an outstanding series of 10 overs taking 2-31 whilst Whitworth was ultra economical with 1-14 in 7 overs. Following as crucial and brilliant run out by Joe Riddell it was left to the captain to wrap up the win with three wickets to bring Harlow a much needed and handsome victory as Frenford were dismissed for just 149.

Pictured Chris Whitworth - excellent with bat and ball