A scampered single off the final delivery of the innings secured a one-wicket win for Vale, their second in three league matches this season, but that barely scrapes the surface of a feisty, nail-biting encounter.
A match of several twists and turns – and plenty of incident – saw Harrow get off to a flying start, before captain Neil Lederman (3-37) led the Vale fightback with the ball.
A superb second half to the innings from Vale’s bowlers restricted the visitors to a below-par score, with Adam Brand, Benjamin Lederman, Simeon Cohen and Steven Allweis all chipping in with vital wickets, supported by excellent catching.
Set a target of 211 to win, Vale looked on course with Adam Brand (62), Ben Kohler (34) and Alex Haffner (31) all in fine touch – but a highly contentious decision by the opposition’s umpire to give Brand out LBW reignited the visitors’ hopes.
After further controversy with the umpire, bowlers’ actions and issues with the scoring, it came down to six required off the final over to win and then five needed off three balls, with two wickets in hand.
Under intense pressure, an audacious ramp shot by Steven Allweis sailed away for four runs – but he was dismissed off the penultimate ball with the scores level.
In hobbled Jonny Gould at no. 11. Normally a top-order batsman, Gould had suffered an injury in the field and required the assistance of a runner. However, given the spirit in which the game had been played, it was no surprise that Harrow Town refused that request. For Vale, it made victory all the sweeter.
Gould crashed the ball straight to one of Harrow Town’s close fielders, but a fumble by him and then another by the wicketkeeper allowed Rayno Greenwall-Cohen to scamper home just in time to seal a memorable win for Vale.
MATCH SCORECARD
HARROW TOWN 210 (41.5 overs)
LONDON MACCABI VALE (Bowling)
Steven Allweis 8-2-37-1
Rayno Greenwall-Cohen 6-0-31-0
Benjamin Lederman 8-2-21-2
Neil Lederman 6-0-37-3
Simeon Cohen 4-1-26-1
Adam Brand 8-0-42-3
Joseph Greenwall-Cohen 1-0-6-0
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LONDON MACCABI VALE (Batting) 211-9 (45 overs)
Joseph Greenwall-Cohen 15 LBW (26 balls, 3x4)
Adam Spooner 15 ct (27 balls, 3x4)
Adam Brand 62 lbw (79 balls, 3x4, 2x6)
Benjamin Lederman 14 ct (27 balls, 3x4)
Ben Kohler 31 b (50 balls, 1x4, 2x6)
Alex Haffner 31 ct (37 balls, 3x4)
Neil Lederman 14 ct (14 balls, 2x4)
Simeon Cohen 2 run out (4 balls)
Steven Allweis 4 ct (5 balls, 1x4)
Rayno Greenwall-Cohen 1 not out (2 balls)
Jonny Gould 1 not out (1 ball)
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CRICKET SCOREBOARD
CHESS VALLEY LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Harrow Town 210 (41.5 overs) Neil Lederman 3-37, Adam Brand 3-42
London Maccabi Vale 1st 211-9 (45 overs) Adam Brand 62, Ben Kohler 34, Alex Haffner 31
LMV won by 1 wicket
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FRIENDLY MATCHES
Belmont & Edgware 172 Elliott Mayer 109, Jonathan Field 60
Greenwood Park CC TBC
BECC lost by TBC
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London Maccabi Vale 2nd XI 193-4 Danny Caro 76, Jonathan Weiniger 76
Grimsdyke 194-3
Grimsdyke won by 7 wickets
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COLTS
London Maccabi Vale Under-11 163-2
Totteridge 38
LMV won by 125 runs and are league champions
