North Enfield Cricket Club’s 1st XI returned to winning ways with a dramatic six-run victory at Stevenage in Division 4B of the Hertfordshire Premier Cricket League.
They bowled the hosts out for 232, having earlier been dismissed for 238 in the final over of their innings.
After opting to bat first, North Enfield were in dire straits at 125-8, despite Ishan Tilakaratna’s 28 and Tom Coughlan’s 48.
The situation looked bleak for the visitors, as Oliver Munt walked out to join Steve Gandy at the crease, only for the most remarkable partnership to unfold that will go down in North Enfield history.
As the senior batter, Gandy assumed the role of the aggressor, looking to take down the Stevenage bowlers, whilst Munt blocked and left admirably at the other end.
Gandy reached a brilliant counter-attacking half-century from just 37 deliveries and continued on his merry way, frustrating Stevenage and continually digging his side out of a large hole.
From 125-8, North Enfield flew past 150 and then 200, as Gandy neared an unbelievable century.
He appeared to have got there with a third six, only for the umpire’s initial decision of six to be changed to four, but a single into the leg side next ball duly brought him three figures.
Gandy’s century also brought up the hundred partnership, with the runs solely coming from his bat and a few extras, as Munt remained defiant in defence.
He was unleashed though with Gandy reaching his century, finally getting off the mark from his 35th delivery with a four over mid-on.
Although Gandy fell in the final over for 105, ending a 113-run partnership, North Enfield finished with 238, which had looked nigh on impossible a few hours earlier.
They were unable to find many early breakthroughs though and despite Gandy (2-50) claiming their first wicket, Stevenage were sitting pretty at 107-1.
An Abbie Jones run out and a brace of Coughlan wickets brought them back into the game though, before a sensational double strike from Munt (2-23) manoeuvred them into the driving seat.
The momentum swung from one way to the other in a tense finale, with Stevenage requiring 21 runs to win and North Enfield three wickets.
David Malleson (1-42) picked up North Enfield’s eighth wicket and Adam Jessop their ninth, as he trapped a Stevenage batter LBW.
Coughlan (3-53) duly finished off the job for North Enfield from the next delivery, with a simple caught and bowled sealing their six-run triumph.
Elsewhere, the club’s 2nd XI lost to Knebworth Park by 20 runs, whilst Freddie Pearson’s maiden century for the club (107*) inspired their 54-run victory over FM Arthur’s on Sunday.
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