Despite the inclement weather in the preceding week, North Enfield’s Friendly XI were able to compete in two end of season friendlies, albeit with varying success as they succumbed to Kensington & Chelsea on Saturday, but defeated North Weald in the annual ‘Cake Game’ on Sunday.
On Saturday, Kensington & Chelsea batted first on a damp, sticky pitch, with both captains being satisfied, as North Enfield captain Chris Gillman was more than happy to bowl first, but the visiting captain sent his batters out with a clear statement of intent. The visistors got off to a rapid start, despite the moisture in the pitch meaning that there was something in it for the bowlers when they hit the right areas, with the visitors’ batting going from the sublime one moment to the ridiculous the next, as some pleasant stroke play was intertwined with some agricultural swiping that kept the scoreboard moving. Numerous half chances were created for North Enfield, but the ball just kept on landing short of fielders or mistimed strokes somehow found the gaps in the field. It took the introduction of David Malleson into the attack to halt the visistors’ progression, as he claimed three deserved wickets in an accurate, probing seven over spell, with the slower bowlers proving much tricker to get away. However, the solid platform that had been set meant that the lower order could go out swinging, meaning that despite Steve Gandy picking up two wickets and Nick Munt luring a batter into skying the ball to Gandy - Kensington & Chelsea were able to continue to accelerate and pose a daunting 249 for 7 from their 35 overs.
North Enfield’s prospects looked bleak at the halfway stage, only for a trademark Ishan Tilakaratna onslaught to give them some hope by getting their run chase off to a rapid start. There were warning signs for Kensington & Chelsea when he dispatched his second delivery for six to the longer boundary, however - this could not really prepare them for what was to come as Tilakaratna launched their bowling to all parts of Strayfield Road and reached a sparkling half century. Unfortunately for North Enfield, he departed for 65 when he dragged a delivery onto his stumps, ending a promising opening stand of 81 with William Munt, who also fell soon after for 21, just after starting to find some rhythm. Chris Gillman continued to counter punch and kept North Enfield in it, but the fall of four quick wickets around him snuffed out any real hopes of a surprise victory. He passed 50 and was ably supported by David Malleson, but the task eventually proved too much and North Enfield fell short by 38 runs on 211 for 7, with Gillman finishing unbeaten on 80.
Elsewhere, North Enfield swept aside North Weald on Sunday, as two wickets apiece for Kieran Jones, Atula Tilakaratna and Richard Sanders limited the visitors to 98 for 8 from their 35 overs, before an unbeaten half century for Garry Orton (51*) and 29* for Tom Coughlan saw North Enfield cruise home.
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