North Enfield Cricket Club’s 1st XI put in a thrilling comeback with the ball and in the field at Strayfield Road on Saturday to claim a five run victory over Preston.
A third five wicket haul of the season for Kieran Jones (5 - 27) helped them restrict Preston to 200 - 7 from their 50 overs, after the visitors had been going well at 125 - 0.
Jones’ performance with the ball followed another masterclass with the bat, as he compiled a quality 107* on a slow surface - his fourth league century of the season.
The Preston openers had appeared to be guiding their side to a comfortable victory, only for a Tom Coughlan run out and Jones’ first wicket to reduce them from 125 - 0 to 127 - 2 and bring North Enfield right back into the game.
A further double strike from K. Jones, whilst Abbie Jones built the pressure at the other end, further ramped up the pressure on the visitors and the aforementioned duo combined for a run out to leave Preston 177 - 5.
With close to a run-a-ball required for the last five overs, Coughlan and K. Jones bowled brilliantly to prevent the Preston batters from regularly finding the boundary, assisted by some impressive fielding.
K. Jones then provided the game with the champagne ending it deserved, claiming two wickets in the final over to complete his five wicket haul and cap off a remarkable North Enfield comeback victory by just five runs.
Prior to his bowling heroics, K. Jones had earlier guided North Enfield to what proved to be an insurmountable total.
After putting on 75 with Chris Gillman (37) and 65 with William Munt (25), he reached a serene century as North Enfield progressed towards 200.
An unbroken stand of 56 with Coughlan (13*) ultimately steered the hosts to 205 - 3, which eventually proved to be just enough, after a nail-biting finish.
Elsewhere, the club’s 2nd XI lost by seven wickets at Old Cholmeleians on Saturday, before the Friendly XI lost another thriller by one run on Sunday.
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