Avi Shah, fresh from an unbeaten 99 for the u15s, guided the 2s towards their first 30 points of the season on Saturday. His 122* was the backbone of a score of 250 that would prove to be beyond North Enfield IIs.

Coming to the crease early, with the North Enfield opener picking up 2 quick wickets, Avi partnered Miles in rebuilding the innings. He batted confidently from the outset, mixing quick singles with authoritative boundaries. The innings continued to grow as Avi, alongside his dad Kirit, took plenty of aggressive options against the Enfield bowling attack. Despite the variety in the Enfield bowling attack, they were unable to slow the runs that continued at a consistent rate throughout the innings. Nerves grew in the crowd as Avi approached his maiden senior ton. A late innings partnership with Luke, however, ensured that he safely reached the landmark. This was the cue for a late attack that took the side to 250.

OEs bowled well from the outset of the North Enfield innings. Umair and Brad both extracted movement from the pitch, making life very difficult for the Enfield batsmen. The score crawled into the 20s as the ten over mark approached, OEs seemingly in control. This grip loosened as the innings progressed, two North Enfield batsman effectively taking on the bowlers. They attacked the short boundary with confidence, the game again now in the balance.

The two key breakthroughs would come in vastly different circumstances. Captain Nav’s came first, pinning a sweeping batsman on the back leg. The second, removing the star batsman of the North Enfield line up, arrived from somewhat more fortuitous means. Umair, having bowled 9 overs of controlled and threatening inswing, served up a leg stump full toss that could only be flicked to the waiting hands of Abdullah at deep fine leg. It would be the defining moment of the innings as North Enfield failed to maintain their attacking intent in the later overs; Luke and Brad’s closing spells both ensuring that OEs would cross the winning line with a degree of comfort.

The 2s will now be looking to be making it back to back wins as they host highly placed Abbots Langley on Saturday.

Written by Tom Spenceley

Scorecard: https://oeherts.play-cricket.com/website/results/3378654