North Enfield Cricket Club’s 1st XI saw their five match unbeaten run come to an end on Saturday at Luton Town & Indians, courtesy of a 105 run defeat.
They were bowled out for 183 in their pursuit of 289 for victory, after a 170 run opening stand had earlier allowed the hosts to post 288 - 6 from their 50 overs.
The Luton openers made North Enfield toil in the sweltering conditions, putting away any stray deliveries, whilst also managing to avoid giving up any chances.
After a relatively cautious start, they started to move through the gears and really put North Enfield to the sword, with their partnership surpassing 100 and then 150 as both openers reached half-centuries.
By the time captain Ishan Tilakaratna finally claimed his side’s first wicket, the damage was already done and the other Luton opener was able to cruise through to a fine century.
Tilakaratna and Richard Lee were able to slow the scoring though, with the latter removing Luton’s centurion, whilst three wickets later on in the proceedings for Tom Coughlan meant that the visitors were able to keep Luton under 300.
However, it was always going to prove to be a tough task after 50 long overs in the field, and despite a slow and steady opening partnership of 48, the game appeared to be slipping away from North Enfield when Chris Gillman (32) was run out and they then fell to 109 - 4.
Counter-attacks from Tilakaratna (44) and Steve Gandy (28) added increased respectability to the proceedings and allowed them to pick up five batting points, although the game had long been over as a contest by the time Oliver Munt was dismissed for the final wicket.
Despite the defeat, North Enfield still took away 11 points and sit in fourth in Division 4B of the Hertfordshire Premier Cricket League.
Elsewhere, the club’s 2nd XI lost by 10 wickets to Bentley Heath, whilst Gillman made 46* in a five wicket victory for the Friendly XI over Enfield Ignatians RFC and captain Abbie Jones took four wickets in a 23 run victory over South Loughton.
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