Wealdstone Corinthians 160-9 Restan 3-18
BECC 1st 161-9 (Abrahams 65*, Evans 32
Belmont & Edgware 1sts maintained their 100 per cent record in all matches this season with a friendly victory over Wealdstone Corinthians.
This was a fixture at short notice, as the captain of original opponents Waltham Central CC was involved in a motor accident on Friday night and was in intensive care on Saturday. The thoughts of BECC are with his family and friends.
Gideon Restan and Mike Prager renewed their opening partnership and were as miserly as ever, even considering the short downhill boundary. The overcast conditions favoured swing bowling, and each of the openers picked up a wicket in their first spell.
Neil Myeroff replaced Restan and slowed the scoring rate down even further, conceding a mere seven runs from his six overs and picking up one wicket. Jon Goddard and debutant Rafi Addlestone bowled well but were attacked by the Wealdstone middle order, although Addlestone did take his first wicket for the club thanks to a stunning catch from Dan Abrahams.
Warren Averbuch put the brakes on Wealdstone just as they looked to be getting away, and Jonny Evans took advantage at the other end as they looked to attack, removing the two danger men for scores above 35. Restan returned to add two more wickets to his earlier one, and Wealdstone finished their allotted 40 overs on 160-9.
In reply, BECC lost skipper Ashley Connick and senior player Simon Durban early, but Jonny Evans and Dan Abrahams shared a partnership of 54, batting well together and timing the ball sweetly.
Shortly after drinks, their partnership was broken and Warren Averbuch and Goddard followed to leave BECC in a spot of bother. Nick McLeod and Addlestone supported Abrahams as he passed 50 and pushed the score towards the Wealdstone total.
A second mini-collapse left the match in the balance with 16 needed from six overs with two wickets in hand. Prager stayed with Abrahams until over 37, by which point seven were needed from three overs.
Myeroff defended resolutely, and it was fitting that Abrahams hit the winning runs to finish 65 not out.
Next weekend sees BECC 1sts take on MAL in a Middlesex Sunday League fixture at the Metropolitan Police Ground, Bushey.
