The battle of the Norths

Highlights: Garraway 73 and 3 for 36, McGiffin 52 and 3 for 28, Hobley 63*

Full Scorecard Here

Perhaps scarred by the failure to take wickets bowling second at Datchworth last week, or more likely, looking down on a typical Northchurch batting deck (pictured), skipper Tom Vila was determined to chase. Duly, he lost the toss and was stuck into bat, North Enfield clearly sensing an opportunity to test the nerve of the league leaders.

After a solid start, utility batter Calum Lindsay, back in the opening slot, was unlucky to receive one of the few balls of the day that moved off the seam and was bowled for six. Garraway joined Liveing and put on a spirited partnership of 30 before the latter was dismissed for a very fluent 34, which included some succulent straight drives for four.

The ever reliable partnership of Garraway and McGiffin was thus reunited and set about the bowling with characteristic controlled aggression. Giff took the anchor role and rotated the strike, while Garraway exploited this season’s imperious form to hit even good balls to the boundary. When Garraway was bowled for 73, against the run of play, McGiffin soon followed as, seeking to pick up the role of aggressor, he was caught in front of the pavilion for 52.

At 175 for four after 31 overs, Northchurch hoped to have the luxury of setting a big target and declaring to allow additional time to bowl the visitors out. They were to get the additional overs, though would not be able to bat North Enfield out of the game as they themselves were all out for 251, losing their last seven wickets for 75 in 15 overs.

The middle and lower order men were unable to hang around, forcing Hobley to get increasingly aggressive in order to post a healthy score. Only Lee Johnson offered much resistance, proving the benefit of bat-on-ball and handing the strike to the in-form man. The former captain, enjoying life back in the ranks, finished on a fine unbeaten 63 and Northchurch went into tea with the task of taking 10 wickets in 51 overs.

North Enfield had not successfully chased more than 220 to this point in the season and had only once before scored more than 250, but Church knew that they were not easily bowled out and would not roll over. What is more, the quality of the pitch would mean that discipline and patience would be the key to creating sufficient pressure.

Opposition Captain, Kieran Jones, made an aggressive start and looked to make good use of the hard new ball coming onto the bat. However, early upset came when he lost his opening partner and number three is successive McGiffin overs. There was no let up when Lee Johnson was introduced into the attack, as he struck twice in his first over to leave the visitors reeling at 45 for four.

A partnership of fifty helped Enfield to recover as the ball lost its zip and stopped swinging. Jones continued to attack and brought up a chance-less half century, while Marsh held up an end with solid defence, occasionally punctuated by extreme aggression which saw maximums sail over cow corner.

The introduction of spin slowed the run rate, with Garraway and Barry both initially going at under two per over. Coming round the wicket, Garraway forced Marsh out of his comfort zone and the mounting tension was eventually broken when a mistimed straight drive offered the simplest of return catches. When Garraway struck again in his next over, Nortchurch smelled blood. Again, dot balls were the key and Sanders’ attempt to release the pressure saw him lose his off stump.

Nearing a century, Jones was forced to re-evaluate his ambition as he only had three wickets in hand to score at the demanding but feasible rate of seven per over. Joined by the experienced AV Khan, who played with aggression to help his Captain bring up three figures then the 200 hundred for the team, Jones' thoughts clearly returned to the win. When Khan was dropped off Garraway at mid-wicket, Northchurch may have wondered whether they would get another chance but the tweaker was back in the game after changing ends, as he had his man smartly caught behind by Matt Suckling.

Jones was clearly intent on chasing the win but when he lost his next partner for a duck, fending off a perfect McGiffin bouncer to a brilliantly outstretched Romit Patel at short leg, he needed to make 45 from the last four overs by himself.

But it was not to last another over as, returning to the attack, Ollie Johnson finished the job. After his first ball was hit over mid-off for four, the field was left up and Jones, now on 141, was tempted into repeating the shot, only to find the extremely safe hands of Spacey Vila. North Enfield were all out for 213 and left wondering what might have been had some of their batsmen provided more resolute resistance.

Credit must be given to Jones for continuing to chase the total but most of all to the Northchurch bowlers, who remained patient in sticking to plans and build enough pressure to create the chances needed to the win the game.

At the halfway point in the season and having seen all the opposition, Northchurch must surely believe that they can maintain their position at the top of division three with the same approach in the remaining nine games.