Mixed Weekend for North Enfield Headlined by Emphatic First Victory of the Season for the 1st XI
North Enfield CC’s 1st XI finally won their first game in Division 3A of the Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League courtesy of a complete all-round performance.
In the absence of captain Chris Gillman, Steve Gandy led the side as they fielded first, after Hemel Hempstead Town CC elected to bat. The visitors got off to the better start with the bat, finding the boundary regularly, however - a couple of intermittent rain delays arrested their momentum and allowed the hosts into the game. Thomas Munt managed to prize out the first wicket, luring the batter into a false stroke that presented a catch to David Brandon in the covers, before he then trapped another batter LBW, attempting an ill-advised slog sweep across the line. Despite the other opener reaching fifty, North Enfield were able to wrestle hold of the momentum, as Gandy bowled him via the inside edge and the returning Tom Coughlan snuck a ball past the defences of another batter. The hosts were firmly in the driving seat, when they managed to claim three more quick wickets, as Gandy claimed another two, caught behind by William Munt at the second attempt and bowled respectively, before the pivotal moment when Gandy snared Town’s captain at slip off of Callum Mackay. The tail were then swiftly removed, as Mackay claimed another wicket with a beautiful delivery that just clipped the off-stump bail and Coughlan bowled another batter, either side of a stunning, one handed diving catch by Irfan Ali at slip off of Gandy.
Chasing 184 for victory, North Enfield got off to a nervous start, as a hostile spell of bowling saw them lose three quick wickets, before Pat Honnor and Coughlan were able to steady the ship. They patiently rebuilt, whilst even after Honnor fell (14), the patient Coughlan and more aggressive Ali dovetailed beautifully to steer North Enfield into a strong position. After Ali skewed a catch to backward point (44), it was Gandy (15*) who joined half-centurion Coughlan (71*) to guide North Enfield to an emotional five-wicket victory, one which truly embodied the old cricketing adage ‘catches win matches’.
However, there was disappointment elsewhere for North Enfield as the Sunday XI lost a friendly to Willow Tree CC by four wickets.
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