Gaz gets over the line this time

Northchurch got off to a steady start against a moving ball after winning the toss and batting against a North Enfield XI which was missing a few key players. Two quick wickets were lost to the gentle in-swingers of James before Garraway and Khan consolidated with a fine partnership of 115.

Saf looked to accelerate after passing fifty but ran past one to give Gillman his second stumping. Bexon supported Garraway in second consecutive 100 plus partnership which took the game away from a dejected Enfield. Tom hit the ball increasingly hard, punching 25 fours and walloping three sixes on his way to his PB score of 158.

A flurry of wickets came at the end as Church batters chased unnecessary but entertaining quick runs and the players headed into tea with 314 on the board.

Without regulars batters, North Enfield were reduced to 43 for 4, with Vila and James taking two apiece, before senior players Coughlin and Gandy combined in a hundred partnership of their own, which stabilised the Enfield innings and accumulated batting points.

Romit and OJ were the only bowlers all day to go at under four per over but both went wicketless. Hobley made the breakthrough, linking up with Joel on the deep square boundary to remove a tiring Gandy, before exploiting the opportunity by taking three more quick wickets.

Coughlin stood firm at the other end then accelerated to a chanceless hundred which secured valuable additional points for his team.
Next week sees the 1st team make the trip to a resurgent Bishop Stortford with their position in the table entirely in their hands.