Jacobs hits quickfire century as Belmont & Edgware beat Vale 2nds

Jacobs won the toss and had no hesitation on batting first on a hay-coloured crisp pitch against a Vale bowling attack that featured four teenagers. Michael Blasebalk and Steven Altmann-Richer opened proceedings and made a solid, if not slow start against the Vale opening bowlers who, from one end troubled the batters with a tight line, and from the other set about peppering the lidless Blasebalk with some short deliveries. Nevertheless, both openers survived the early onslaught.

Vale skipper Anthony Wise then introduced himself into the attack to test the openers with tricky off-spin. This was the undoing of Blasebalk who went back to a full delivery which rocked his off-stump. Blasebalk departed for a gritty three off 23 balls in the ninth over with the score now standing at 29-1.

This brought Jacobs to the crease at his new no. 3 spot. He quickly showed why he had promoted himself, repeatedly shovelling the ball down to deep backward square leg for boundaries. All the while, Altmann-Richer was anchoring the innings beautifully.

At the first, much needed, drinks break, the score stood at 46-1. Both batters quickly picked up where they had left off, and before we knew it, another 12 overs had gone, and another set of drinks were being taken, with Belmont sitting pretty at 124, still for the loss of just one wicket.

After bedding in nicely, Altmann-Richer decided to attack by hitting a flurry of boundaries, the pick of which was a gorgeous straight drive through the vacant mid-off region for four. His innings came to an end in the 27th over, stumped off the bowling of Wise by the Vale keeper.

Shaj Shulendr came to the crease and played an admiral role as runner for Jacobs. Eventually it was his turn to face a ball. From the sidelines, fellow new-boy Fabray had been singing Shaj's praises, and was rubbing his hands with glee, waiting for the inevitable six off the first ball. Much to his dismay, he had jinxed Shaj with the dreaded ‘commentators’ curse’ as he was bowled round his legs for a golden duck.

Scott Gerard strode out and swung his bat around for 17 runs before being stumped, though he still maintains that he never goes out of his crease to a slow bowler. Fabray and Jacobs finished the innings off, the latter finally reaching his century off 80 balls. Jacobs finished not out on a highly impressive 108 off 85 balls.

From a pedestrian start, Belmont had posted a seemingly insurmountable 238-4 off 35 overs. Jack Davis and Joseph Sweiry both took a wicket for Vale,whilst Nathan Gellman and Harry Davis both bowled well without any reward.

In reply, Vale openers Jonathan Albert and Jeremy Harris got off to a good start, putting on 43 in ten overs. They added nine more runs before the partnership was broken. Jonny Eintracht and Morris had probed with line and length to no avail, and the latter was taken off for David Kaplan. He didn't disappoint, dismissing Harris, caught behind by Blasebalk, for a well-constructed 19.

Aron Gale was next in and he struggled to get going, eventually succumbed to Fabray for a duck. Fabray continued to bowl quickly and with good control of line and length, and deservedly picked up the wicket of the opener, Albert, who at the age of 14 had acquitted himself well for a well-earned 43.

Gerard then picked up the wicket of Gideon Gale and by the second drinks break, Vale were five down and well behind the run rate.

No. 5 batter Jack Davis batted beautifully and passed 50, displaying a number of attacking shots, but the Belmont total was never under threat.

Jack Mendel and Shaj were brought on and continued to keep things steady. Both had a wicket to show for their efforts. Bension Tilley was eventually brought on with seven overs remaining and showed why he calls himself a death-specialist. After a succession of balls nestled in the Vale block-holes, one eventually beat the bat, trapping the batsman plumb LBW.

One ball later, Tilley was celebrating again as he had the next batter caught behind by Blasebalk – his third catch of the match.

Tilley's hat-trick ball was just about fended away by Davis, though the ball cut viciously from middle and leg and was headed straight for the off stump as Vale’s reply closed on 160-8 from 35 overs.

CRICKET SCOREBOARD

CHESS VALLEY LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

Watford Town 190 Joseph Greenwall-Cohen 3-20

London Maccabi Vale 1^st XI Danny Caro 80, Adam Brand 72 not out

LMV won by 8 wickets

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FRIENDLY MATCH

Belmont & Edgware 238 Adam Jacobs 108 not out

London Maccabi Vale 1^st XI 160 Jack Davis 54, Jonathan Albert 43

BECC won by 73 runs

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(July 8)