Northampton Exiles I vs North Enfield Cricket Club I (A) - Saturday 06th September 2025

North Enfield Cricket Club’s 1^st XI finished their season in style with a clinical six wicket victory at Northampton Exiles on Saturday in Division 4B of the Hertfordshire Premier Cricket League.

109 from vice-captain Kieran Jones and 52 from skipper Ishan Tilakaratna saw them ease to their target of 249 with 4.3 overs remaining, after they had earlier restricted the hosts to 248 - 5 from their 50 overs.

North Enfield’s run chase got off to a solid start, with Jones dominating a 129 run stand for the first wicket with William Munt (129), before James Scott added increased impetus with a quickfire 11.

However, the 90 run partnership between Jones and Tilakaratna proved to be the final nail in the Northampton Exiles coffin, taking North Enfield to 11 runs from victory.

With Jones continuing to play the anchor role and Tilakaratna regularly finding the boundary, the visitors were soon able to put the result beyond any doubt.

A pull through the leg side for four brought Jones his fifth century of the league season, along with four half-centuries, as well as his 50^th century for the club.

Tilakaratna reached an impressive fourth league half-century of the season, whilst Jones was able to walk off having scored 1,032 league runs at an average of 103.20 after chopping on.

Despite Tilakaratna following him back to the pavilion, Steve Gandy (8*) powered two fours through the leg side to secure the victory and a more than respectable fifth placed finish for his side.

North Enfield had earlier managed to keep Northampton Exiles in check with the ball and prevent them reaching an unassailable total.

After a couple of early strikes from Gandy and Oliver Munt, they were frustrated by a 109 run partnership for the third wicket, until Jones found the crucial breakthrough.

With O. Munt picking up two further wickets at the backend of the innings, North Enfield were able to wrestle back some momentum and curb any Exiles acceleration.

Elsewhere, the club’s 2^nd XI lost to Botany Bay by five wickets, despite 78* from Andy Corgan, whilst the Friendly XI triumphed over Wheathampstead by 37 runs thanks to 84 from Ishan Tilakaratna.