North Enfield Cricket Club’s Friendly XI clinched a nail-biting victory in the last over against Cockfosters to claim their first victory in a 70th anniversary match at Strayfield Road!
Kieran Jones hit an unbelievable six over cover in the final over as North Enfield reached 167 - 9 in response to Cockfosters’ earlier total of 166.
After being asked to bowl first, North Enfield got off to the perfect start, with Ollie Scott claiming two early wickets and bowling well in tandem with Freddie Pearson.
However, Cockfosters rebuilt nicely and were starting to put together a threatening partnership, when their number three tried to hit Joe Murphy over the top, but could only find the hands of Josh Jones at mid-off.
The game was in the balance with the visitors 85 - 3 at drinks, but Murphy snuck through the defences of another batter soon after to put the hosts back into the driving seat.
The introduction of Alex Scott in his first senior game then handed North Enfield all of the momentum, as he claimed the impressive figures of 4 - 7 and tore into the Cockfosters lower order. Josh Jones and then Hannah Gilmore with her first ball wrapped up the innings, with North Enfield set a target of 167 for victory.
They got off to a steady start through William Munt and Daniel Vanniasingham, who guided them to 68 - 0 at drinks. Munt then reached 50 soon after, but both openers fell and a mini collapse followed, as North Enfield slumped from 85 - 0 to 99 - 4.
James Scott counter-attacked well, hitting three big sixes and swinging the game back towards North Enfield, before he was bowled for 27. Oliver Scott and Alex Scott steadied the ship well though and remained firm in the face of some impressive opposition bowling.
When both fell, Murphy joined Kieran Jones at the crease, adopting a similar role to Jack Leach in his famous partnership with Ben Stokes at Headingley all those years ago. Murphy defended stoically and Jones got the required runs total to eight to win off the final over, but he only needed two balls, hitting a huge six over cover to seal a dramatic victory for North Enfield.
For anyone interested, next Sunday’s final 70th anniversary match against Enfield will be live streamed on the club’s YouTube channel at the following link: https://youtube.com/live/-pS2YlCyaw4?feature=share
Image: Jess Lessiter
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