Skipper Laud returned us to normality by losing the toss and being asked to field on a glorious day at Watery Lane. Khan and Hassett opened the bowling as usual. Harborne got off to a very steady start, although were going hard at the ball and creating chances for the Earlswood bowlers. Khan got the deserved breakthrough, having Lloyd caught by Snipe in the slips, before Hassett finally got his reward with the wicket of Randhawa in the last over of his first spell. Craven replaced Hassett and, after a loose first over, got quickly to work taking the wicket of Yadav, caught by Hassett on the boundary. Craven quickly struck again to remove Nirantharakumar, who was bowled round his legs by an off spinner…. Holloway survived leaving a straight one into his pad first ball, and when Clifford played one shot too many and was caught by Laud off the bowling of Khan, it looked as if Earlswood were well on top.

However, Langdell and Holloway batted patiently together, building a platform for Harborne to accelerate, putting on around 50 for the next wicket. Colby finally removed Holloway, bringing Carter to the crease who batted very well to race to a 50, with some big sixes on the way. Langdell played more of an anchor role, but also reached his 50 in the last couple of overs. In the meantime, Bussey had Carter caught at long-on via a good diving catch by Craven. Harborne finished on 241, which having been 70-5 was a brilliant effort.

Next up was the Lord Laud show. I wish I didn’t have to write such glowing praise for him, trust me, but it really was a fantastic innings to carry his side to victory. Earlswood had lost 3 quick wickets, all for single figures, but through some loose bowling were on 40-3 after 6 overs. Arron Snipe joined Laud at the crease and the pair batted fantastically, putting on around 100 for the 4th wicket with some very patient batting, dealing in singles and putting the bad balls to the fence. Laud reached his 50 after deep square leg very generously parried his pull-shot over the fence for 6.

However, when Snipe was ran out following a mix-up, Harborne were given a way back into the match. Craven, Weir and C. Snipe all came and went quickly, but Laud remained un-phased with some fluent strokes. Hassett joined him at the crease, and the pair looked to see Earlswood home. Harborne cost themselves again as Hassett was dropped twice, and when Laud soon reached his 100, it put Earlswood ever closer to winning. Hassett was caught behind off a bouncer from the returning opener, bringing Calkeld to the middle. He stayed with Laud until the end, with the target being reached via a Laud cut through backwards point, taking the skipper to 120*.

A fantastic innings, performance and win for the boys. They meet another unbeaten side in Marston Green tomorrow, looking to make it 4/4.

https://earlswood.play-cricket.com/website/results/5188181