North Enfield Cricket Club’s 1st XI put up a fighting performance with the bat at Strayfield Road on Saturday to rescue 20 points from their 56 run defeat to Northampton Exiles.
An extraordinary 209 run partnership for the seventh wicket between Kieran Jones (134*) and Callum Mackay (101) dragged them from 71 - 6 to 297 - 7, in reply to the visitors’ 353 all out.
Mackay joined Jones with his side in dire straits, after a string of single figure scores from the top seven, with Zane Green the only other batter to reach double figures (16).
With Jones as reliable as ever in his familiar anchor role, Mackay initially took time to find his feet out in the middle and adjust to the conditions.
However, once he had done so, the runs started to flow from both ends and the partnership started to flourish, as both batters passed 50.
Jones was then able to reach a brilliant third century of his side’s league campaign, whilst Mackay started to go through the gears, with an audacious ramp for four being a particular highlight.
Despite the prospect of victory fading away, Mackay was still able to bring the home faithful to their feet, as he reached a splendid maiden century for the club.
When he eventually fell for 101, Freddie Pearson ably supported Jones to guide the hosts to just shy of 300, after they had already ensured the maximum 20 points that can be gained in defeat.
North Enfield had earlier been made to pay for missed opportunities in the field, as the Exiles piled on the runs in seemingly unrelenting fashion.
After a well compiled 68 from their opener, their number three hit the ball to all parts in a brutal 138, well and truly taking the game away from North Enfield.
To their credit though, they fought back well, with Pearson claiming 4 - 65 and Jones 3 - 79 as the Exiles slipped from 300 - 3 to 353 all out, as North Enfield finished the day positively, both with bat and ball.
Elsewhere, the club’s Friendly XI lost out to the Chairman’s XI in the annual intra-club game at Strayfield Road on Sunday.
Callum Mackay makes his way off the field, after making his maiden century for North Enfield in their defeat at home to Northampton Exiles.
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