Heavy overnight rain and further morning downpours were not enough to derail any of Harlow CC’s main promotion candidates over the weekend. The First, Second and Fourth XI’s all won to ensure they retained their respective places in the automatic promotion slots of their divisions whilst the midtable 3rd and 5th XI’s suffered honourable defeats.

The First XI travelled to Ardleigh Green & Havering CC and there were looks of trepidation from players on both sides once they had examined a wicket that was green and damp with areas of variable give in the surface. It appeared a toss that one would not want to lose but the coin went the wrong way for skipper Ryan Jessey and Harlow were duly inserted first to try and assemble a competitive total. Those fears were confirmed by the first delivery that spat off a length and disappeared over opener Ben Yeats’ shoulder but with a combination of some fortune and good shot selection he and partner Lee Jessey began to see off the very worst of the new ball until they both fell in quick succession for 13 and 22 respectively.

Batting was still a major difficulty as the temperature improved and the wicket dried unevenly leading to prestigious bounce at one end and occasional low shooting deliveries at the other. As all normal mortals struggled with the conditions, Harlow professional, Jason McNally set off aggressively from the outset scoring at better than a run a ball. As McNally plundered the bowling it clearly had an effect on the Ardleigh attack, who buckled under the pressure being applied, frequently losing their line and length.

On 40 McNally was given a life as a rare error led to catch going down in the outfield. It was to prove a costly mistake from the home side. In one of the most incredible innings ever produced in Harlow colours the all-rounder scored an unbeaten 211 not out – his highest career total. The first hundred came of only 83 deliveries and the acceleration continued with the second from a mere 57 with twenty-two fours and twelve sixes. Despite a talented Harlow batting line up only Luke Monger looked remotely comfortable in the conditions in making a better than run a ball 32 as the McNally dominated innings closed on 329-7 in 50 overs representing a season high for the baggy greens.

By the time Ardleigh began their reply the pitch had received the benefit of several hours unbroken sunshine and playing conditions, and whilst still challenging, had without doubt eased for the batsmen. Openers Hurworth & Thain advanced the score to 57 before Aussie swing bowler Mitch Howarde got one to pop up off a length and snare the home captain for 38. Excellent sharp catches from Rehman Ahmed and Ben Yeats accounted for Thain and Bayfield from the bowling of Howarde and Monger and the result looked a formality. Leading wicket taker Sarfraz Ahmed added a further two wickets to his seasons tally before McNally chipped in with one to complete a memorable day. The final piece of home resistance was quashed when Rehman took a superb diving catch to remove Tom Gentile (30) from the economical bowling of Joe Riddell and in the dying overs Ryan Jessey mopped up the tail with three quick wickets to complete a huge 148 run victory.

Ryan Jessey 3-7 (2.2 overs), Sarfraz Ahmed 2-43 (10 overs), Mitchell Howarde 2-55 (10 overs), Luke Monger 1-27 (10 overs), Joe Riddell 1-30 (10 overs), Jason McNally 1-9 (3 overs)

Disappointingly for Harlow, both promotion rivals also won. Westcliff looked under serious pressure but defended 138 in a 30 overs aside weather affected game against Goresbrook whilst Leigh on Sea claimed an 8 wicket win over Walthamstow CC. The top three are now well clear of the rest with Harlow retaining their current second place position.

Harlow Second XI also met opposition from Ardleigh Green and like the senior side also claimed an overwhelming win to maintain their promotion push.

Having won the toss Rob Coldwell asked the opposition to bat first and a good all-round effort from his bowlers helped dismiss the visitors for 186 with only Chris Haylett (59) mounting any serious threat. Waheed Azam claimed 3-32 whilst Callum Sykes and Zabi Hakimi each grabbed a brace of wickets.

Waheed Azam 3-32 (9 overs), Zabi Hakimi 2-23 (6 overs), Callum Sykes 2-36 (9 overs), Amir Farooq 1-24 (6.1 overs), Jake Messenger 1-32 (8 overs) and Sunni Ali 0-22 (5 overs)

Harlow eased to the win courtesy of a glorious attacking century from opener Syed Hassan (118 not out). Zabi Hakimi (29) and Charlie Coleman (22) also chipped in with runs as the home side cantered home in only the 25th over. The 2’s also retain second position following this weekend.

The Third XI travelled to Brentwood to face the side currently sitting top of their division. A thunderstorm just before the start delayed this fixture causing a reduction to only 30 overs per side. A promising early start in the field by Harlow was extinguished by a superb 105 not out from home batter Jatin Patel.

Tyler Dobson 2-19 (6 overs), Asad Baig 1-25 (5 overs), Faisal Javed 1-39 (5 overs), Abdullah Farooq 1-40 (6 overs) the wicket takers.

In reply several Harlow batsmen got a start but none were able to go on and make a match winning contribution. Ilhan Mustafa (29), Faisal Javed (27) and Thomas Smith-Hughes (23 not out) leading the way with the bat.

The 3’s remain in midtable but no doubt will look to secure a victory or two in the coming weeks as those behind them are within striking distance of dragging our side into a relegation battle.

The Fourth XI started the day in second place in the division behind Brentwood CC their opponents on Spicers. Brentwood batted first and Harlow did not waste the opportunity to put their rivals under immediate pressure as Myles Baldock and Libby Riddell ensuring the scoring rate hovered around two an over whilst youngster Baldock also removed opener Luke Ranns for only 5. Brentwood dragged themselves back into the game with a lengthy partnership between Andrew Maxwell (49) and Joe Philpott (37) but once the latter had been dismissed by Syed Ali Harlow quickly ran through the opposition batting line up until a frustrating ninth wicket partnership in which Brentwood number 9 batsman, Alex Godfrey, added an unbeaten 47 threatened to redress the balance of the match as the table toppers reached 182-8 in 45 overs.

Syed Ali 5-28 (9 overs), Myles Baldock 2-18 (9 overs), Nathan McCarthy 1-28 (3.2 overs), Libby Riddell 0-9 (6 overs)

Harlow made a strong start to chasing down the total as openers Ian Nuttall (45) and Biju Mathew (28) both batted fluently. Four quick wickets had Brentwood again hopeful of a victory that would put them a long way clear of any threat in terms of promotion but steady batting from Nathan McCarthy (24) and Haider Rasool (23) eased the nerves and it was fitting that Syed Ali, fresh from his 5-wicket haul in the first innings, should steer the Harlow side home for a crucial win with an undefeated 23.

The Fifth XI travelled to play Hockerill 2nd XI in their HECL league fixture and were involved in a very competitive game that could have gone either way. Batting first Harlow started strongly with Shab Munir making 61 before retiring alongside his son Zain Munir who made 26 and James Forde batting at 3 (34 not out) as we posted 168-7 in 40 overs.

A very committed effort in the field, including several diving stops by none other than Paul Baxter, was not quite enough as despite wickets from Colts bowlers Paddy Matthews, Matthew Fisk, James Forde and Oliver Allen the home side just got over the line in the penultimate over winning by 3 wickets.

Paddy Matthews 2-18 (9 overs), James Forde 2-29 (9 overs), Russ Davies 1-27 (3 overs), Matthew Fisk 1-28 (3 overs), Oliver Allen 1-29 (8 overs), Abbas Shah 0-23 (6 overs)

Sunday saw the Harlow U13 defeat High Roding to clinch the U13 West Essex league title. Many congratulations to all players and coaching staff on a magnificent season with lots of promising young cricketers with the potential to play across the adult sides in the near future.

The U16 side also secured a win, by the huge margin of 184 runs, in the Essex Match play tournament. An opening partnership of 196 between Ben Yeats and Nathan McCarthy set the tone for the day. Yeats made 115, from only 85 balls, whilst McCarthy added 69 at almost a run a ball. An excellent late knock of 55 from 13-year-old James Forde supported by Myles Baldock (17 not out) and Paddy Matthews (17) propelled the Harlow innings to a superb 313-6 in 40 overs. Opponents Fives & Heronians decided to attack from the outset but wickets fell from the start and they were dismissed for 128 in the 25th over. Wickets were shared two-a-piece between Myles Baldock, Paddy Matthews, Muffadol Adamjee, James Forde and Benjamin Furrer whilst Abdullah Farooq, Oliver Allen & Evie Matthews also bowled good economical spells. The win leaves the U16’s top of their group on run rate with one round of fixtures remaining.