Saturday saw the final weekend of the Essex Senior League season. The First XI ended on a high beating relegated Benfleet comfortably with Muhammed Umar Raza striking a superb hundred. A mid table finish for the First team that was matched by the Second XI who were beaten at Woodford Wells.

The 3's fate was already sealed as they drop down a division next season. Despite Jack Sykes making 64 they were unable to get close to chasing a huge total from Fives 3rd XI.

The game of the day was the Third XI who faced top of the table West Essex needing a win to have any hope of avoiding relegation from Third XI Premier Division. Simon Baulcomb takes up the story.

Harlow CC 248-8 45 overs
Dip Basnet 100

West Essex CC 179 all out 39.1 overs
Riz Akbar 81
Harris Hameed 3-17
Faz Javed 3-43
George Jessey 2-38
Jake Hikmatshah 1-27

Harlow CC's 3rd XI secured their Premier Division status for another season with a rousing win against table toppers West Essex, who themselves were looking for a win to secure the title. So there was a lot on this game. We batted first upon losing the toss. Arshad and Atif were cautious but severe on anything loose. Arshad fell first, that brought in Dip who, played the innings of the season with everyone else able to bat round him, our score began to grow. Naseer 36, Atif 30, Baulcs 20, Faz 24 all contributed to keep the score bowling along. When Dip was out for a quite magnificent 100, we were well over 200 and looking at being able to exert a bit of pressure with the ball.

We started our defence of 248 in gathering gloom, wondering if we'd actually get finished. Harris was magnificent in his use of the new ball, swinging it in at pace that, frankly, the W.E. top order could not cope with. They were reeling at 8-2 and under severe pressure at 15-3 with Harris taking all 3. Riz Akbar set about a counter attack and played very well, offering one sharp chance to slip off Harris. But the support at the other end was always a bit lacking. Umar Hayat smashed it about a bit until Tylers "flipper" hit middle stump. A smart tumbling catch by Atif at backward square leg did for Akbar for a fine 81. Once he was gone, 8,9,10,jack offered little resistance with Faz and George filling their boots as the run rate climbed above 9. The end came in the 40th over, which is just as well because it was more than dark by that time !

We saved our best game til last. We were terrific in the field, the bowlers hit their spots and Dip was just brilliant with the bat. Its just a shame it took us 18 games to hit our stride !

Lets do it from game one next year lads