Belmont & Edgware went down to a 19-run defeat in a nail-biter against Mill Hill Development.
After losing the toss, the Belmont & Edgware boys took to the field and Adam Jacobs and Ed Saleh opened the bowling and found the going tough as Mill Hill's hard-hitting openers raced to 87-0 after just six overs.
Ryan Monk's decision to bring on himself and fellow slow blower David Kay broke the partnership. Kay, at one end, tied the batsmen up, while Monk claimed two quick wickets. Although the captain made the initial breakthrough, he saw three catches go down off his bowling which proved decisive.
David Kaplan was introduced to the attack and he turned the screw, pickin up two in two. His hat-trick ball was kept out, but he went on to claim another victim on his way to figures of 3-29.
Jacobs returned to remove the tail in the final overs and finished with 3-46 as Mill Hill were restricted to 202. Monk said: "After a bad start, a total of near 300 looked on the cards. But to bowl this very good Mill Hill Development side out for just over 200 was a great achievement, especially some great fielding from David Kay and Noam Attar.
In reply, Belmont & Edgware got off to a great start with a 50 partnership for the first wicket as the top-order was changed. Steven Altman-Richer opened with Elliot Mayer. After making the 50 milestone, a loss of concentration accounted for the wicket of Mayer who fired one straight back at the bowler for 33.
Jacobs joined Altman-Richer and the pair looked in great touch and rotating the strike. But 91-1 turned to 95-4 as Jacobs was run out, and then Phil Mayer and Blasebalk went for ducks.
A heavy defeat looked on the cards, but Monk steadied things in the only way he knows by battering the ball around to all sides. And with help from Saleh and Kaplan the target of 202 was in sight. But with the final overs approaching, Monk went for one big hit too many and was caught on the boundary for a great knock of 43.
In the end the last wicket fell quickly after and a loss by only 19 runs was registered.
Monk said: "It was a great afternoon of cricket as the game ebbed and flowed between the two sides."
