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Sat 27 May 2017 · 1st XI Division One (Time & Overs)
1st TeamBelhus CC - 1st XI
200/0
197
Harlow win in Sunshine
Craig Messenger30 May 2017 - 11:33
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No wickets lost
Glorious sunshine, the new clubhouse looking terrific and another belter of a pitch prepared by Cliff Clark: this was the scene as Harlow 1 XI hosted newly-promoted Belhus in the team’s first home league game of the season. Belhus started the day as league leaders, with Harlow only four points behind in fourth place.
Having been put into bat, the Joyce brothers, Danny (43) and Joe (60), showed both resilience and class in building a solid platform for the visitors. Mitch Howarde, on route to his eighth competitive wicket of the season, had the former caught behind by Andre Riddell, with Hafiz Afzal clean bowling the latter. Tight bowling by Harlow ensured Belhus failed to capitalise on their decent start, with only Matt Doran (42) offering serious resistance until he was bowled by Mustanser Meraj. Ross Vasani bagged four wickets with some great leg-spin bowling, the pick of which was a ‘Mike Gatting’ ball which pitched outside leg-stump and clipped the top of off-stump to dismiss Mason (0). Second wickets for both Hafiz and Howarde condemned Belhus to a sub-par score of 197 all out off 47.4 overs. Honourable mention goes to Nathan Khelawon, the promising fourteen-year-old batsman making his first-team debut, for some great work in the field.
Belhus needed early wickets if they were to deny Harlow their first league win of the season, but it was not to be because Hafiz was in terrific form. Controlled aggression by the experienced opener saw a flurry of boundaries and the game rapidly turn in Harlow’s favour. Hafiz struck sixteen 4s and two 6s on his way to 117 not out. At the other end Alan Jones (78 not out) was playing the supporting role as the pair racked up 200 – 0 off 34 overs to seal the win. In three league games Harlow’s opening pair has scored a combined 435 runs for three dismissals, an average of 145.
A great performance by Harlow saw the team up to second in the league table, just 4 points behind the new league leaders, Woodford Wells. The Harlow 1 XI are at home for the next two Saturdays, initially taking on a strong Harold Wood side, who narrowly missed out on promotion last season, and then Buckhurst Hill, who dropped down from the Premier Division.
Having been put into bat, the Joyce brothers, Danny (43) and Joe (60), showed both resilience and class in building a solid platform for the visitors. Mitch Howarde, on route to his eighth competitive wicket of the season, had the former caught behind by Andre Riddell, with Hafiz Afzal clean bowling the latter. Tight bowling by Harlow ensured Belhus failed to capitalise on their decent start, with only Matt Doran (42) offering serious resistance until he was bowled by Mustanser Meraj. Ross Vasani bagged four wickets with some great leg-spin bowling, the pick of which was a ‘Mike Gatting’ ball which pitched outside leg-stump and clipped the top of off-stump to dismiss Mason (0). Second wickets for both Hafiz and Howarde condemned Belhus to a sub-par score of 197 all out off 47.4 overs. Honourable mention goes to Nathan Khelawon, the promising fourteen-year-old batsman making his first-team debut, for some great work in the field.
Belhus needed early wickets if they were to deny Harlow their first league win of the season, but it was not to be because Hafiz was in terrific form. Controlled aggression by the experienced opener saw a flurry of boundaries and the game rapidly turn in Harlow’s favour. Hafiz struck sixteen 4s and two 6s on his way to 117 not out. At the other end Alan Jones (78 not out) was playing the supporting role as the pair racked up 200 – 0 off 34 overs to seal the win. In three league games Harlow’s opening pair has scored a combined 435 runs for three dismissals, an average of 145.
A great performance by Harlow saw the team up to second in the league table, just 4 points behind the new league leaders, Woodford Wells. The Harlow 1 XI are at home for the next two Saturdays, initially taking on a strong Harold Wood side, who narrowly missed out on promotion last season, and then Buckhurst Hill, who dropped down from the Premier Division.
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