Kohler’s perfect tonic
CRICKET LONDON Maccabi Vale produced a thrilling victory away to Watford Town to maintain their perfect start to life in Division Two of the Chess Valley League.
A magnificent unbeaten partnership of 152 between Ben Kohler and Adam Spooner guided LMV from a perilous position to what was ultimately a comfortable six-wicket triumph, with almost 14 overs to spare.
Chasing a target of 199 to win, Vale were in trouble early on and at 50-4, Watford Town looked well set for an early finish.
However, Kohler and Spooner then came together to wrestle control back and guide LMV over the finishing line, both youngsters displaying mature heads that belied their relative youth.
Spooner was composure personified in making a chanceless 56 not out, while Kohler combined punishment and common sense in equal measure, deflating the home side’s bowlers with his intelligent batting. He finished with 78 not out, made from just 63 balls and featuring 10 fours and two huge sixes.
Earlier in the day, Vale had delivered a strong all-round bowling display to limit Watford Town to below 200.
Steven Allweis (1-33), Steven Reingold (1-24) and Grant Reingold (1-31) bowled with great control before Benjamin Lederman (6-32) dismantled the Watford batting line-up.
Jonny Evans and Adam Jacobs steered Belmont & Edgware (BECC) to a seven-wicket triumph over Railway Taverners CC.
The Taverners recovered well from 79-4 to finish on 216-8 from 40 overs, with Josh Reynolds picking up his first wicket for BECC.
Steven Altmann-Richer and Dan Frumar added 66 in BECC’s reply before captain Jacobs and Evans peppered the boundary and reached their respective half centuries in good time.
Evans was in aggressive mood, particularly severe on bowlers missing a good length, and he also smashed a waist-high no-ball over the ropes for towering six.
Evans cracked a four to finish unbeaten on 60, with Jacobs finished on 69 not out after 32 overs.
Elliott Mayer hit his second century for BECC in the recent 66-run victory over Neasden. He finished unbeaten on 106.