Stevenage II vs North Enfield Cricket Club I (A) - Saturday 31st May 2025

North Enfield Cricket Club’s 1^st XI jumped to joint third in Division 4B of the Hertfordshire Premier Cricket League, courtesy of an 85 run victory at Stevenage on Saturday.

Tom Coughlan (3 - 21) and Kieran Jones (5 - 15) shared eight wickets as they bowled Stevenage out for 136, after 66* from captain Ishan Tilakaratna had earlier propelled the visitors to 221 - 7 from their 50 overs.

Stevenage initially made a solid start to their chase, putting on 56 for the first wicket as several chances failed to go to hand, until their captain chipped a Coughlan delivery to Steve Gandy at mid-off.

North Enfield continued to chip away and when Oliver Munt ended a counter-attack from their number five via a Kieran Jones catch, they were in the driving seat with Stevenage on 103 - 4.

The end ultimately came quicker than expected, with Stevenage losing their last six wickets for just 11 runs.

After Coughlan picked up his third, the introduction of Jones into the attack saw North Enfield finish the hosts off to claim the 30 points.

Jones’ accurate off-spin was too much for the Stevenage lower order and his figures of 5 - 15 in just 3.4 overs meant that he has now claimed 14 wickets in his last three league games.

Tilakaratna’s brutal onslaught at the backend of North Enfield’s innings was much needed, as regular wickets had seen them slip to 101 - 6 and then 137 - 7, despite contributions from Jones (39), Pat Honnor (20) and Andrew Pearson (11*).

Alongside Steve Gandy (36*), North Enfield’s captain absorbed some pressure at the start of his innings, before going through the gears and motoring his side past 200.

His innings consisted of nine fours and two sixes, whilst also providing his side with the momentum going into the second innings and a total that proved to be more than enough to claim the victory.

Elsewhere, Bamville squeezed home to a tight four wicket victory over the club’s 2^nd XI at Strayfield Road on Saturday, whilst half centuries from David Brandon (65) and Jones (62*) were ultimately in vain on Sunday, as the Players & Jesters also beat the club’s Friendly XI by four wickets.