North Enfield Cricket Club’s 2s put in an impressive bowling display at Bamville on Saturday to secure their survival in Division 9 East of the Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League!
North Enfield rolled over their hosts for just 76, after earlier scrapping to 126 - 8 from their 40 overs to pick up a 50 run victory.
After being asked to bat first on a minefield of a surface, North Enfield were in real trouble after losing two early wickets. However, the experienced pair of Stuart Halley and James Scott dug in for the visitors, making steady progress and battling away in tricky conditions.
After reaching drinks without sustaining any further damage, the pair looked to continue to press on, but their progress was stalled as first Halley (28) and then Fieaz Tazower (1) fell to balls that skittled low across the deck.
When Scott’s fighting 38 was ended not too long after, Garry Orton and Oliver Scott continued to push North Enfield towards and then past 100. Scott found the third man fence and looked to be positive, before holing out to deep midwicket. With the overs running out for North Enfield, Orton (18*) and Kazi Islam (10*) ran hard at the end to push North Enfield to a challenging total of 126 - 8 from their 40 overs.
The size of the task for Bamville was immediately clear, when Oliver Munt struck twice in his opening two overs. Both Munt and Oliver Scott bowled a threatening opening spell, with few loose balls to build the pressure.
After a brief rebuilding stage for Bamville, the pressure paid as their opener attempted to scythe David Malleson through the leg side, but could only top edge a steepling catch back to the bowler. The introduction of Alex Scott into the attack then well and truly turned the game in North Enfield’s favour, as he claimed three quick wickets in a hostile spell of quick bowling.
At six wickets down Bamville could either choose to stick or twist and twist they choose, continuing to be aggressive, which ultimately led to their downfall. Malleson snuck through another airy stroke, before the captain Orton’s teasing off breaks brought about the eight and ninth wickets.
The writing was well and truly on the wall, when Alex Scott’s diving catch off Malleson sealed a fighting victory and meant that North Enfield preserved their Division 9 East status.
Elsewhere, North Enfield’s 1s suffered relegation to Division 4B after a tense 12 run defeat at home to Sandridge, despite four wickets for Steve Gandy and 73 for Kieran Jones. Meanwhile on Sunday, North Enfield lost a rain affected match to Muswell Maidens, despite four wickets for Oliver Munt and 52* for Garry Orton.
Image: James Scott
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