Leverstock Green II vs North Enfield Cricket Club I (A) - Saturday 14th June 2025

North Enfield Cricket Club’s 1^st XI extended their unbeaten run to four games with a dramatic four wicket victory at Leverstock Green on Saturday.

Tom Coughlan (46*) and Steve Gandy (6*) guided them to their target of 225 with eight balls remaining, after they had bowled the hosts out for 224.

Chris Gillman (46) and Kieran Jones (36) got North Enfield off to a brilliant start in what promised to be a tricky run chase, regularly finding the boundary and putting Leverstock Green under pressure.

However, when both fell before drinks, the momentum swung back towards the hosts, who were then right on top when William Munt (13) and Pat Honnor (3) were dismissed soon after.

Coughlan continued to anchor North Enfield’s innings though and a timely cameo of 29 from Irfan Ali brought them back into the game.

Despite the loss of Ali, North Enfield were able to charge towards another 30 points, as a quickfire and boundary-laden 18 from James Scott propelled them towards their target.

With the tension mounting, Gandy was finally able to seal a third victory of the season for the visitors, as he chipped the winning runs over the inner ring.

North Enfield had done well earlier to drag the hosts back, after they made a fast start with the bat.

Their left-handed opener struck a rapid 40 and saw them go past 50 relatively early, but when Freddie Pearson snuck a yorker through his defences, North Enfield were able to reign them back in.

Although there were a few Leverstock Green cameos, Gandy, Coughlan and both Abbie and Kieran Jones largely restrained the hosts during the middle overs and despite them passing 200, a combination of some good death bowling from Pearson and Oliver Munt and outstanding fielding allowed North Enfield to limit them to 224.

With contributions throughout, North Enfield were ultimately able to get over the line and moved up to outright third in Division 4B of the Hertfordshire Premier Cricket League.

Elsewhere, the club’s 2^nd XI put in an improved display despite their 31 run loss to Tewin, whilst 58* from Coughlan guided the Friendly XI to a four wicket victory over Old Vazians on Sunday.