Walthamstow 202-9dec

Harlow 18/0

Match abandoned

(Essex League Division Two)

THE RAIN that affected so many fixtures in the Shepherd Neame league on Saturday ruined a perfectly poised game, just as Harlow began chasing 203 for victory.

With no games reaching a positive outcome, Harlow remain top of the Shepherd Neame Essex League Division Two, six points clear of Chingford and seventeen clear of Hutton, who climbed above Hornchurch after getting nine points from their draw with Ardleigh Green.

Winning the toss and choosing to bowl first Harlow got off to a great start, reducing mid-table Walthamstow to 75-4 as Paul Mayhew and Paul Lenihan both bowled well with the new ball.

A recovery from the middle and lower order allowed the home side to pass 200 in the last over of their innings, with the last pair adding 26 runs inside three overs as spinner Niraj Odedra took four of the last five wickets to fall, and finished with figures of 4-55 from 16 overs.

Harlow's reply began in confident style with Terry Rist and Nilesh Odedra adding 18 in the three overs possible before rain took the players from the field at 5.30.

Having chased a similar total the previous week, against a better bowling attack, Harlow would have been confident of reaching their sixth win of the season.

But with all their nearest rivals also falling foul of the weather, the position remains much the same as before with five weeks left.

Harlow's five remaining fixtures include games against the sides in fourth, fifth and sixth place, so their destiny is very much in their own hands. The team should be confident that three wins will probably being enough to seal a second promotion in a row.

The Harlow's second eleven declared at 225-7 against Old Southendians, who reached 179-2, but could not be bowled out. The third eleven were 246-6dec and also drew with Old Southendians, who reached 180/7.

This weekend Harlow host Hornchurch, who are 21 points behind Harlow in fourth place in the table.