North Enfield Cricket Club’s Friendly XI crept over the line against Old Minchendenians on Saturday at Strayfield Road to complete a dramatic victory!
Captain Ishan Tilakaratna bunted the first ball of the final over down the ground for four to seal a one wicket victory for North Enfield, after the visitors earlier posted a challenging total of 205 - 6 from their 35 overs.
Old Minchendenians elected to bat first at the toss and got off to a fast start, despite one of their openers tamely poking an attempted reserve sweep off Oliver Munt to Maroof Ebrahim at first slip. Despite a damp outfield, boundaries were coming thick and fast as the visiting top order attempted to put North Enfield under pressure.
A couple of quick wickets soon stalled their momentum though, as first Richard Lee trapped a batter LBW, before William Munt ran out another to reduce the visitors to 50 - 3. However, they continued to look to be aggressive and started to motor once more towards drinks, with their opener reaching an attacking half century and the team total surpassing 100.
The interval then wreaked havoc with the batters once more, as both fell quickly after the drinks break. One tamely chipped a catch to Lee off the bowling of Otis Halley, before the opener was stumped by Owen White off a flighted Abbie Jones delivery.
With the hosts suddenly back in the ascendency, the experienced Minchendenians pair consolidated well and ticked the score past 150. As the end of the innings approached, they upped the ante well and despite White claiming another stumping off Freddie Pearson, they managed to post an imposing total of 205 - 6 from their 35 overs.
North Enfield got off to a similarly fast start, with both William Munt and Ebrahim finding the boundary on multiple occasions. They raced past 50 - 0 and continued to look as if they would break the back of the chase.
Unfortunately, they soon slipped from 70 - 0 to 70 - 3 in the space of an over and Ebrahim faced a rebuilding job with Pearson. After a brief consolidation period, Ebrahim went on the attack once more and when joined by White was well supported, as they ticked along past 150 and Ebrahim raced past 50.
Tilakaratna and Ebrahim then looked to be guiding North Enfield home, only for Ebrahim to fall just short of a superb century (96) and another flurry of wickets to halt their victory charge. With just 10 required, last man Oliver Munt defended well from one end and with the nervous apprehension around the ground tangible, Tilakaratna found the fence to seal a dramatic victory for the hosts.
Image: Stuart Halley
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