Harrow St Mary's CC 1st Xi vs Ealing CC 1st XI

The first team travelled to premier league newcomers Harrow St Mary’s, on what turned out to be the hottest day of the year so far.

On a used deck with the sun beating down it would have been the ideal opportunity to push for 12 points by batting first. However, true to form Kristian lost the toss and we were fielding first.

Scott and Chad opened the bowling and it wasn’t long before we were celebrating the first wicket, Chad hooped one back in to the left hander and he shouldered arms as the ball crashed into middle stump. Two overs later we were celebrating again as he produced an exact replica of the first wicket. Two batters out leaving and we were on top. Chad took a third not long after and at 12-3 it looked like we might run through them.

However, some solid resistance came from former Ealing pair, the Soni Brotehrs, and as ball stopped swinging batting started to become easier.

The introduction of spin ensured that the batting side never got away and after 31 overs at lunch, Harrow St Mary’s had only reached 59.

After lunch, the spin duo of Kristian and Ashley continued and it wasn’t long before the breakthroughs came.

They bowled for the whole session ensuring that Harrow St Mary’s never got away and at the end of their 66 overs they finished out 143-9. Kristian finished with 3 wickets, Ashley with 2 and there was a run out due to some great work by Andy Laws.

We were confident of chasing it down at halfway but on a turning deck against a side that included former Middlesex spinner Ravi Patel it could have been a challenge.

Oli and Shawsy quickly dispelled any worries we may have had, they put on a fantastic 100 opening partnership thanks to some great shot making. With the score on 104, Oli was dismissed, but not after striking 12 boundaries in a superb 64. Bailey came to the crease and he and Shawsy knocked off the remaining 40 in no time.

Shawsy ended with an unbeaten 53 and Bailey 20, as we won by 9 wickets and resumed our winning ways.

Highlights:
Chad 7-2-20-3
Kristian 26-7-51-3
Ashley 21-7-49-2

Oli 64
Shawsy 53*