Harlow 144-6 bt Old Brentwood 141-8 dec by 4 wkts.

(Shepherd Neame Essex League).

Harlow got the start they required by beating Old Brentwoods by four wickets in their opening Essex League game on Saturday.

The home side never looked comfortable after being put into bat and Mark Green made the early breakthrough.

A classic spell of bowling by veteran Cliff Clark (20-10-33-2) exploited conditions superbly.

With the ball on top for the majority of the innings only an inept fielding display during the last 20 overs, which saw five dropped catches, allowed the home side to reach 141-8 declared. Ayrton (1-39) and Aspinall (2-20) were the other wicket takers with two run outs.

On a rapidly deteriorating wicket Harlow began slowly but put on 30 for the first wicket before Munir was stumped. It was Terry Rist on his return to the side who forced the pace.

With the score on 64, skipper Alan Burtons long vigil ended when he was bowled for 32, and Harlow needed Rist to be at his most consistent as McKenzie, Baulcomb and Morgan all quickly departed with less than 15 runs between them.

Rist continued to bat sensibly for a calm 59 and saw his side to safety together with Michael Prodger (21 not out) before going two runs short.

On Sunday Harlow lost by 80 runs in the Abbot Ale Cup to Hemel Hempstead.

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