BELMONT & EDGWARE CC 223-7 (40 overs)
EDGWARE CC 226-6 (37 overs)
Edgware won by 4 wickets
Unusually, BECC won the toss in consecutive weeks and elected to bat on a typically sticky Mill Hill Village wicket.Vice-captain Elliott Mayer and his father, Phil, opened and steadily progressed to 20 before Phil, having played a lovely cover drive in the previous over, popped the ball to silly point. Elliott was also back in the hutch shortly after, following a superb reaction catch by the same fielder.
No. 3 Frumar, fresh from his 73 last week, looked in good touch and immediately started stroking the ball around the ground. However, before he could really get going, he meekly patted a long-hop back to a grateful bowler. It appeared as if Frumar had so much time to hit the ball that he was caught in several minds as to which shot to play.
That meant that at 49-3, a period of consolidation was necessary. Captain Adam Jacobs and Michael Blasebalk were initially cautious on a pitch that offered something for both the pace and spin bowlers. However, having survived a few difficult overs - particularly from Edgware’s tricky leg-spinner - the pair grew increasingly expansive as the pitch flattened out and put on a partnership of 123 in 22 overs.
Blasebalk was eventually run out, pushing hard for an extra run in the 34th over, but not before he had scored a valuable 32 in what was a welcome return to form.
Jacobs had by this point started to motor along and was seeing the ball well. Prior to Blasebalk’s dismissal he had hit a big six down the ground to bring up his half century and as the innings approached its close he continued to attack. He had time to stroke one more straight six, this time from the other end, before finishing on 92 not out.
With support from the lower order, Belmont finished with a highly competitive 223-7 off their 40 overs.
Following tea, Belmont took to the field to defend their total. Although Greg Mayer and debutant Adam Morris both bowled well, Edgware were able to make a fast start to their chase. However, BECC did not panic and a change of pace brought rewards when Edgware's no. 2 inexplicably padded up to a Frumar delivery that was skidding onto middle stump.
With Bension Tilley bowling tightly from the other end, the runs started to dry up. The mounting pressure told when the left-armer clean bowled their no.3 to drag Belmont back into the game.
Jacobs brought himself on to further restrict the opposition and the ploy worked as Edgware struggled to score off him. However, whilst Jacobs was bowling economically, after Tilley completed his eight-over spell, Belmont struggled to contain the flow of runs from the other end.
Although Edgware were keeping up with the run rate, Belmont consistently took wickets to remain in the contest. Tilley struck again with the last ball of his spell, before Jacobs snaffled two himself. Morris, bowling his second spell, opened his account for the club when a short ball was hit aerially straight to the waiting Tilley at mid-wicket.
Despite this, Edgware had enough in the tank to see them home. Their no. 6 played a calm, sensible innings and was good enough to put away the bad balls when offered. He was unbeaten on 37 with Edgware reaching their target with three overs to spare.
BECC: E Mayer, D Frumar, P Mayer, A Jacobs, M Blasebalk, N McLeod, J Freedman, B Tilley, A Morris, G Mayer, J Mendel
