Harlow promotion bid on the ropes after latest defeat

9:10am Thursday 24th July 2008

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CRICKET

Harlow 138-a/o
Loughton 139-3
(Division Two)

HARLOW slumped to a fourth straight defeat as rivals Loughton ran away with a convincing seven-wicket win.

Visiting skipper Mike Hughes won the toss and invited the hosts to bat on a damp track at the Marigolds.

This was an important game with Loughton second and Harlow third in the league.

Stuart Greenhill had Nick Butler leg before and soon after Kelby Pickering trapped skipper James Butler the same way.

Nelish Odedra and Haroon Khan took the score to 64 before David Kilbey-Brown had the latter caught in the gully.

Odedra then fell to Pickering and young leg spinner Gareth James jnr accounted for Simon Baulcomb and Nazir.

With Harlow reeling at 109-8 Luke Heskett battled to 21 not out, but two run outs ended the innings on 138 in less than 40 overs.

Pickering (4-53) finished with the best figures from the Loughton attack, while James (2-31) provided the main support.

Loughton’s opening pairing of Ritchie Bann and Gareth James snr added 76 confidently although Butler juggled his bowlers well.

Nick Butler had James taken by Calvino for 56 in 69 balls and trapped Bann leg before with a low full toss.

Mike Hughes and Usman Jan dealt entirely in boundaries. Hughes hit four fours and a six and Jan six fours and a six in an unbeaten 30.

Dejected Harlow skipper Butler said: "Loughton were the better side by some distance on the day.

"They batted well and bowled well, so we had no excuses at the end of the day."