North Enfield Cricket Club’s 2s fell to a second consecutive defeat to start the league season, despite a much improved showing at home against Stevenage.
The hosts could only muster 144 - 6 from their 40 overs in pursuit of Stevenage’s target of 220, after putting the visitors into bat on a slightly slow surface.
Richard Lee and Oliver Munt initially bowled well in tandem with the new ball to keep Stevenage’s openers in check. After a chastening experience at Broxbourne the previous weekend, North Enfield were happy to keep the visitors to just 64 - 0 at the 20 over mark.
Not long after the interval, it got better for North Enfield, with Dan Gandy and O. Munt striking in quick succession to reduce Stevenage to 123 - 2. First, William Munt stumped one opener off Gandy, before O. Munt’s excellent fuller delivery sent the other opener back to the pavilion for a well-made 60.
However, towards the back end of their innings, several lusty blows from Stevenage’s middle order saw them accelerate to 219 - 3 from their 40 overs, despite Lee claiming North Enfield’s third wicket.
W. Munt and David Brandon saw North Enfield get off to a slow and steady start, reaching 72 before Brandon was caught behind for 24. His dismissal sparked a couple of quick wickets and North Enfield slumped to 96 - 3.
After a brief period of consolidation between W. Munt (58) and Atula Tilakaratna (4), in which the former reached his half-century, both then fell in quick succession to leave North Enfield in serious trouble. The hosts were able to get up to 144 - 6 and five batting points thanks to cameos from debutant Ivian Varbanov (8) and Lee (12*), but eventually fell to a 75 run defeat, albeit with positives to take into their next match at Southgate Compton.
Elsewhere, North Enfield’s 1s fell to a 53 run defeat at Old Camdenians, despite Freddie Pearson’s three wickets, and Tom Coughlan’s unbeaten 52 was in vain on Sunday, as North Enfield succumbed to a heavy 147 run defeat at Chingford.
Add comment
Comments