Vale fall agonisingly short in title race
CRICKET LONDON Maccabi Vale suffered a nail-biting final-over defeat away to Chingford to deny them a topof-the-table finish in the Chess Valley League Division Three.
With promotion already secured heading into last Sunday’s encounter, Vale knew that a win would clinch the title but they were thwarted at the death when Chingford squeezed home in a tight chase in the final over.
It has been a remarkable season for LMV with the club recording their fourth promotion in consecutive years to push forward on to Division Two, and they will look back fondly on a season of comfortable victories and all-round contributions.
Yet just when they eyed up a piece of silverware, they could not quite cross the finishing line.
Earlier in the day, Danny Caro proved the rock of Vale’s batting, striking his first century for the club in carrying his bat throughout the innings. After a cautious start he burst into life in the middle overs and brought up his maiden Vale ton in the closing stages, finishing on 112 not out.
Unfortunately, there was not the support around him to power Vale to an unassailable total. Wickets fell cheaply at the other end and only Adam Brand threatened to take the game away from the hosts. But as he was beginning to open his shoulders, he was given out caught-and-bowled when it appeared the ball bounced just before the bowler.
Vale scrambled their way to an under-par total of 211 from their 45 overs — and with a lightning quick outfield and short boundary on one side, it felt light. And so it eventually proved.
Steven Allweis struck in the first over with the new ball and then Joseph Greenwall-Cohen added three more victims to put Vale in charge.
Some strong middle-order batting, however, combined with some sloppy errors in the field, allowed Chingford back in to the game.
A partnership of more than 100 appeared to have knocked the stuffing out of Vale, but they continued to battle and a wicket from Adam Brand gave them hope.
Greenwall-Cohen pulled off the catch of the season, an arching onehanded effort plucking the ball from the sky, and Allweis took two more wickets in the penultimate over of the match to take his outstanding tally for the season to 27 wickets in eight games.
It was not to be for Vale, though, as Chingford avoided relegation by eking out six runs from the final over to squeeze home by two wickets.
A disappointing end to a fine season should serve as a reminder of the challenge that lies ahead in Division Two for LMV, but LMV took another step forward now is the time for the club to reflect on yet another promotion and another strong step forward.