Borehamwood & Elstree won its first midweek Twenty20 match, beating Stanmore by 20 runs in an Inter-Synagogue match.

With both teams featuring players from London Maccabi Vale and Belmont & Edgware, the quality of play was always going to strong.

Missing injured skipper Joel Sager, stand-in Skipper Harvey Samuels tossed up with his opposite number and was pleased when Stanmore decided that BESCC should bat first.

But the inning did not start as it had been intended as BESCC lost both Jacob Freedman and Harvey Samuels in the very first over of the match. Things went from bad to worse as they found themselves 10-3; all three wickets taken by Gideon Matlin.

It was not looking good for BESCC. However, a quality mid-innings partnership of 47 between Jeremy Turek and Brian Green not only steadied the ship but also created an excellent foundation for the lower order to set up a reasonable score to defend.

Turek (21) and Green (21) were dismissed within quick succession and another collapse saw the score plummet from 57-4 to 73-7. However, an excellent late cameo performance from Saul Freedman, who hit 27 not out, took the BESCC final score to 116-8 off their allocated 20 overs.

There was still work to be done though. The drive and desire from the BESCC fielders pushed them to keep the bowling tight and hence, the wickets came. Jonathan Freedman, making his debut for BESCC, conceded only four runs, three of which came in his first of his four overs. He finished with two wickets.

Stanmore’s first batsman was dismissed with an excellent catch from Harvey Samuels off Saul Freedman’s very first ball. Wickets continued to fall with the efforts of debutant Phil Lassman rewarded with figures of 3-13.

The excellent bowling performances continued with David Marks, another debutant, rolling back the years with 3-15 with the best of his wickets from LM Vale member Jeremy Harris.

A brief partnership between Lawrence Briggs (18) and Harris (17) moved Stanmore’s score closer to the finish line but their inning was finally completed when Jacob Freedman clean bowled Isman 20 runs short.

BESCC captain Harvey Samuels said: “This was a very pleasing performance, played in an excellent spirit. A big thank you to BESCC debutants Phil Lassman, Brian Green and David Marks, as well as to Dan Freedman, who came along only to watch but due to the late withdrawal of David Shaw, was asked to help out by playing and not only did he field very well but also came on to bowl at the end when victory was in our sights.”

Further midweek games are being arranged….if interested in playing for BESCC and are currently a member of Borehamwood & Elstree United Synagogue, email joelsager@yahoo.co.uk for further details.