North Enfield Cricket Club’s 1st XI squeezed home to a dramatic two-wicket victory over Hoddesdon at Strayfield Road in Division 4B of the Hertfordshire Premier Cricket League.
They reached their target of 222 with seven balls remaining, after fighting back impressively with the ball to dismiss the visitors for 221 in 44.2 overs.
Kieran Jones’ 83 anchored their successful run chase, which had been in doubt after a disastrous start.
They slipped to 36-3 and were in a perilous position at 57-4, when Tom Coughlan was trapped LBW for 19.
However, Jones shared partnerships of 67 and 52 with Owen White (33) and Will Grisedale (18) respectively, as the hosts rebuilt and started to move back into a position from which they could win the game.
Despite the loss of Steve Gandy (6), Jones continued to drive his side forwards, having reached his half-century, by sweeping for four and then six to take them one shot from victory.
Although he was bowled to set up a tense finale, Michael Hovermill (3*) and Matt Hodgins (4*) saw North Enfield over the line to a vital 30 points.
Hodgins’ maiden five-wicket haul (5-37) for the club had earlier allowed them to reel Hoddesdon back in, amidst the backdrop of a poor display in the field.
North Enfield started well and had Hoddesdon in trouble at 14-2, courtesy of a double strike from Hodgins in the same over.
They were made to toil in the searing heat, though, as the visitors put on 131 for the third wicket and gave themselves a platform from which to accelerate.
Three wickets for captain Ishan Tilakaratna (3-48) and Tom Coughlan running out the set batter brought North Enfield back into the game.
Hodgins then came back to clean up the tail and complete a deserved five-wicket haul.
His third wicket came via an outstanding one-handed catch from Coughlan, before a simple caught and bowled, and then a diving catch from Jones at slip.
The victory sees North Enfield remain in sixth, ahead of a trip to Preston next week.
Elsewhere, the club’s 2nd XI lost at Hatfield Hyde by three wickets, whilst the club’s Friendly XI lost another thriller on Sunday, with Pelican CC edging to a four wicket victory with two balls to spare.
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