Following their title win and promotion in 2021, what was needed more than anything else by Harry Burton’s 2nd XI was a campaign of consolidation in Second XI Division One. In short, that is exactly what they achieved, never in the hunt for promotion but equally never remotely in trouble at the foot of the table.

One factor that undoubtedly assisted Harry was the stability of the First XI which meant for the first time since 2019 there was no revolving door of players between Harlow’s two leading adult sides. It allowed for the progression of some promising younger players with Ben Seary, Oliver Allen, Ben Terrington and the Hikmatshah brothers, Jake and Farhad, all getting extended game time at this level. However, the side also was the scene of the more experienced heads getting an opportunity at this level, one which was taken with both hands by the likes of Arshad Muhammad (with the bat) and Jack Sykes (with the ball).

To the uninitiated, the opening two games of the season may have been rather troubling with Harlow conceding over 700 runs against Chingford and Epping in consecutive defeats. The fact of the matter was that the fixture list had pitted Harlow against the stand out favourites for promotion in those matches. On a positive note for Harry was his sides batting as they scored heavily in both games despite defeat registering maximum batting points in both games.

Against Chingford, Mark Quant top scored with 70 supported by Ben Terrington (34) and Abdul Munim (44). For Munim it was the opening salvo in a superb season that was to see him score over 900 league runs and finish as his divisions second highest run maker.

It was a similar tale against Epping with Mark Quant again top scoring, this time with 79 not out, with contributions from Munim (55) and Amir Farooq (40*).

One felt that for Game Day 3 would be of added significance for the side as they faced a very winnable fixture at Wickford and win they did. Batting first Munim made 83 and Asad Baig 81 as we posted a very useful 252-9. There was to be no destruction of the Harlow bowling on this occasion as all the attack produced solid spells that led to Wickford being dismissed for 167 with Amir Farooq (3-20), Jack Sykes (3-26) and Matt Hart (2-38) doing the majority of the damage.

A fine all-round batting effort at Oakfield Parkonians led to another win. Atif Mustehsan (67) and Jack Sykes (66*) led the way with a useful 38 from Asad Baig as Harlow totalled 276. In a tight game the result was very much in the balance until Jack Sykes dismissed their opener as he approached his century and then ran through the lower order taking 4-49 in a match winning performance.

June saw a mixed bag of results as Harlow lost twice, drew once and were victorious on the single occasion. At Marigolds runs throughout the order (led by Munim with 53 and Harry with 42) helped us post a handy 265 but sadly visitors Colchester chased it down to win by 2 wickets thanks to a wicket keeper batsman named Jack Hobbs scoring 128. Jack Sykes (4-30) had done more than anyone to try and secure the win for Harlow but on this occasion, it wasn’t quite enough.

The commencement of the ‘time format’ matches saw Harlow collect 25 points in an away victory at South Woodford. Batting first Harlow again made a very useful total (241-6) with John Perry making 67 and Munim 59 supported by 36* from Jack Sykes.

The home side actually made a very productive start to their innings before Jake Hikmatshah (2-29) and Jack Sykes (4-35) intervened followed by Joe Riddell routing their tail taking 4-32.

Arguably the first disappointing performance of the season came the following week at Gidea Park & Romford. Batting first Harlow lost their first 5 wickets for next to nothing with only Abdul Munim standing firm. Munim, who went on to make 78, repaired some of the damage in an excellent partnership with Jake Hikmatshah (who made 41) but with extras the third highest scorer with 16 a total of 165 all out looked significantly under par.

In fairness, the Harlow seam attack almost pulled off a stunning win with Matt Hart outstanding with 4-32 and Ben Seary producing an excellent spell of 2-19 alongside Joe Riddell taking 2-57. Just one decent mid innings partnership was sufficient to enable the home side to crawl over the line 8 wickets down.

At Marigolds the following week one can only imagine the chuntering from the scorebox benches as Messrs Sorensen, Clark and friends watched both Harlow openers run out with just a single on the board. Their mood would have steadily improved as John Perry led the recovery with a fine 75 supported by Sunni Ali 48 and Asad Baig 30 before a boundary laden late partnership between Amir Farooq (42) and Joe Riddell (23) boosted the total to 273.

Unfortunately, with the Harlow bowling on top, visitors Hutton shut up shop and despite four wickets for Jake Hikmatshah they secured a draw 7 wickets down.

As we entered July, Harlow produced a fine performance away at Loughton to win by 5 wickets. Matt Hart took 3-44 and Amir Farooq, Farhad Hikmatshah and Tyler Dobson all claimed a brace each to restrict the home side to 238 all out.

Once again, the inform Abdul Munim was the mainstay of our batting with an excellent 98, falling LBW just two short of a served century. Harry Burton made 46 not out and John Perry 35 to ensure a comfortable win.

Next up were the fixtures against the highflying Chingford and Epping, both of whom were clearly fighting each other for the title and both nailed on for promotion. Perhaps this permeated through the side as we were well beaten in both games by 9 wickets.

Against Chingford we were on the back foot from the off but a half century from Amir Farooq and 48* from Harry, backed up by 35 from Jack Sykes helped us post 214 but they chased it down with ease.

The Epping game was even more one sided as Harlow could only muster 163 with Asad top scoring with 40 as the opposition won inside 24 overs.

Thankfully, the side were able to put those two results to one side the following week and returned to form by beating struggling Wickford at Marigolds. Batting first Munim made 111 with runs throughout the order, notably Jake Hikmatshah 42*, Asad 35 and Jon Allen 33, to post 291-8.

Being in the time format, Harlow needed 10 wickets for the victory, something they achieved in the penultimate over. The Hikmatshah brothers took 3 wickets each and Harlow looked to be coasting to the win but a last wicket partnership of over 50 looked to be salvaging a draw for the visitors until Jon Allen’s safe pair of hands intervened off the bowling of Farhad.

The side enjoyed their batting even more the following week playing at home to Oakfield Parkonians. Batting first Harlow recorded over 300 in their 50 overs with James Forde making 68, Asad 55 and Harry 52*whilst John Allen added 38. Unfortunately, a fine century by one of the Parks openers proved a major obstacle and an unbeaten half century by their number 8 took the game into the final over in which we just couldn’t secure the final tenth wicket for the victory and had to settle for a draw with maximum bonus points.

The last of the time games was away at Colchester. Batting first Harlow would have been very confident after posting 307-9 with Munim making a fantastic 116 and Arshad Muhammad 82. Sadly, for the second time in 2022 Colchester batted superbly against us to secure the win for the loss of just 5 wickets.

Two consecutive victories as the season entered the final stages with overs format fixtures cemented the Second XI place in Division One for 2023.

Zabi Hakimi took 3-38 as we held South Woodford to 175 all out which was comfortably overcome thanks to another Munim century (105*) and James Forde (38*).

At Marigolds Harlow avenged their early season defeat to Gidea Park & Romford in a tight, entertaining game. Arshad Muhammad made a glorious century supported by 51 from Asad Baig as we set them 259.

The game swung one way and then the other but late on the visitors were definitely in the box seat until their batsmen decided to repeatedly test the catching prowess of Zaheer Mirza at long on. Within the space of a couple of overs Ben Seary, bowling an excellent fourth stump line, enticed the batsmen to drive into the safe hands of Zaheer no less than three separate occasions to change the game. The icing on the cake was delivered by Ben himself as he uprooted the last man’s stumps with his last ball of the 44th over.

An even tighter game took place at Hutton the following week as Harlow lost by just 5 runs. Two wickets each for Zaheer, Jack and Jake had helped keep their hosts to 252 but Harlow fell agonisingly short of reaching the target despite 91 from Munim and decent contributions from Zabi, James Forde, Amir and Jake.

On the final day of the 2021 season the Second XI had smashed over 400 to conclude the season in style and would you believe it they repeated the dose, this time upon Loughton.

Arshad made 108, Asad 103, Atif 68 and Munim 36 plus a late burst of 21 from Jack Sykes as we posted a staggering 416-8.

Loughton were never in the hunt and dismissed for 185 (a 231 run defeat) largely in part to the performance of debutants Harris Hamid (3-18) and Ibtisam Baig (2-40). Jack took another couple of wickets to round of a fine season of off spin whilst Amir Farooq took 2-27 to move ever closer to the 300 career wickets for the club mark.

Results elsewhere on the final day allowed Harlow to finish the season in a very fine 4th place.

This was a really good season for the 2nd XI. The task to consolidate the promotion of last year was never in doubt and they played some very attractive cricket with bat and ball. Munim and Asad finished in the top 10 run scorers in the division whilst Jack Sykes did likewise with the ball. In the long term, the side gave good opportunities to several younger players with First XI aspirations in the future with the Hikmatshah brothers, James Forde, Ben Seary and Ben Terrington all performing well to say nothing of the promising starts at this level by Harris and Ibtisam.

League Position 4th

Leading Run Scorers

848 Abdul Munim
529 Asad Baig
470 Arshad Muhammad
297 Amir Farooq
282 Harry Burton

Best Average

60.57 Abdul Munim
52.22 Arshad Muhammad
50.67 James Forde
36.00 Mark Quant
33.06 Asad Baig

Highest Individual Score – 116 Abdul Munim

Most Wickets

25 Jack Sykes
18 Amir Farooq
16 Jake Hikmatshah
13 Matt Hart
11 Ben Seary

Best Economy

4.07 Joe Riddell
4.50 Harris Hamid
4.90 Tyler Dobson
5.08 Jack Sykes
5.13 Amir Farooq

Best Individual Bowling – 5-51 Amir Farooq

Most Fielding Dismissals – Jack Sykes 8

Overall Assessment – Exactly what was needed and more. A very good entertaining season.