Joe Joyce scores brilliant century as Sawbridgeworth beat Luton Town & Indians in Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League
Joe Joyce produced one of the finest innings seen at Town Fields for many years as he helped Sawbridgeworth beat Luton Town & Indians in Saracens Hertfordshire League, Division One on Saturday (June 22), writes Richard White.
After being asked to open the innings for the first time since joining the club this season, he scored a magnificent 164 against their fellow promotion chasers.
Joyce did not give a chance as he struck 19 fours and seven sixes from just 128 balls after featuring in a second-wicket partnership of 201 with Rehman Ahmed (68), which was only the fourth double-century stand for any wicket in a first team league game for Sawbo.
Having been invited to bat first, the home side scored an imposing 270-3 after a 45-minute rain delay saw the game reduced to 44 overs per side.
The visitors had no answer to a superb display by Joyce, who racked up Sawbridgeworth’s third-highest individual score in a first team league game. He helped the home side smash an incredible 70 runs from their final five overs before being caught off a reverse sweep with three balls of the innings remaining.
In reply, the visitors reached 81-1 in the 18th over before slipping to 83-4 in the space of six deliveries. Max Osborne had opener Ammad Saeed (28) caught at cover before removing Ali Hassan (0) lbw two balls later before VV Katragadda was trapped in front by Sayed Aziz (1-39) also without scoring.
Mohammed Haroon (101) anchored the rest of the visitors’ reply, but Sawbo’s bowlers kept chipping away as Habibullah Oryakill was the only other Luton player to pass 20, contributing 27 to a seventh-wicket partnership of 60 with Haroon.
Haroon edged behind with five balls remaining as the visitors were all out for 224 with Max Osborne finishing with season’s best figures of 3-29 and the other wickets falling to George Kenny (3-53), Alan Ison (2-45) and a run out.
Sawbridgeworth remain fourth in the table but are now just three points behind Luton Town & Indians and Reed, who lost top spot after losing by five wickets to new leaders Hitchin.
In contrast, the second team were left to rue another disappointing batting performance as they lost to their Berkhamsted counterparts in 5B.
Put in to bat, they were all out for 143 in 35.3 overs with Brad Oakes top-scoring with 79no. They reduced Berko, who have a 100% record, to 109-6 before skipper Daniel Lake (15no) and Finn Mortimore (29no) saw the hosts home by four wickets midway through the 32nd over.
Charlie Newman was the most economical of the Sawbo attack, taking 1-26 in nine overs.
There was better news for the third team as they ended a run of four successive defeats by thrashing North Weald by 10 wickets in Tees Herts & Essex Border League, Division One.
After electing to bat first, the visitors were all out for 92 with all the Sawbo bowlers taking at least one wicket. Taking pride of place was 13-year-old Sammy Mirams, who marked his league debut with superb figures of 2-12 from eight overs.
Charles Robinson (2-17) and Romesh Paktsun (3-14) also impressed while there was a wicket each for Kieran Morgan (1-20) and his son Travis (1-26), who had earlier run out Kalpesh Bari with a direct hit.
Robinson (33no) and Kieran Morgan (51no) needed only 17.1 overs to seal a much-needed and emphatic win for Adam MacDonald’s side, who moved 17 points off the drop zone.
