Belmont and Edgware CC ended their debut season in the North Herts Sunday Cricket League by claiming a nine-wicket win over Breachwood Green CC.
Winning the toss and electing to bowl first, the tried-and-tested opening partnership of Scott Gerard and Josh Reynolds came up trumps yet again. On a very tricky pitch with variable bounce and a lightning-quick outfield, Gerard tore through the opposition’s top order, taking the first five wickets. Reynolds was tidy at the other end, but wasn’t able to pick up a scalp. Gerard finished with figures of 5-33and was ably supported by Zak Shipman, who nipped in with a wicket.
The opposition were 80-6 at the halfway point, before spinner Jack Mendel and captain Adam Morris picked up two each to close the innings out. Morris’ first wicket was his 100th for the club, as Breachwood collapsed all out for 140.
In reply, Daniel Rabie opened up with Jamie Lang-Richards, and the former was run out for just six.
But, that would be the final wicket to fall. Lang-Richards and No3 Dan Humphrey had to navigate the variable bounce from the get-go – Lang-Richards was hit on the head, and took a number of body blows, while Humphrey ended his innings covered in red marks and bruises.
But they dug in to strike up a scintillating 120-run partnership, with Lang-Richards hitting 69 not out – his first-ever 50 – including 14 boundaries, while Humphrey finished on an undefeated 52.
The victory saw Belmont claim their sixth league win of the season, putting them near the top of the table, but just shy of promotion.
Club Captain Adam Morris said: “It was brilliant to end our league campaign with arguably one of our best team performances of the season.
“Everyone to a man bowled well with barely any extras.
“We took good and key catches all throughout the innings, the fielding and keeping was excellent on a really tricky outfield and then a fantastic 120-run partnership between Dan and Jamie to see us over the line with ease.
“It ends a great debut campaign in the league and gives us a real platform to build on for next year.
“We’re looking forward to carrying this momentum forward into the few friendlies we now have to end the season well.”
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