Mahmood haul sets up success for Brabner’s men

Romford Recorder: Harold Wood's opening batsmen put on a half-century stand at Loughton (pic; Gavin Ellis/TGS Photo)Harold Wood's opening batsmen put on a half-century stand at Loughton (pic; Gavin Ellis/TGS Photo) (Image: ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468)

Harold Wood eased to a comfortable Essex League Division One win against Loughton after a five-star bowling display from Burham Mahmood at The Uplands.

Struggling Loughton were dismissed for 176, with Mahmood taking 5-41, and Wood reached their target with eight wickets in hand after half-centuries from Raihan Hussain and Craig Perrin.

Loughton won the toss and chose to bat first, but Shahbaz Khan struck with the new ball in only the third over.

Maruf Chowdhury had success at the other end in his third over, before stand-in skipper Khan (2-28) claimed a second scalp to leave the hosts 35-3.

Vikrant Venkatesan and captain Bilal Butt put on 49 for the fourth wicket, before Harry Thompson dismissed the opener for 31.

And Taqi Abbas fell for a quickfire 24, having hit two sixes and two fours, to make it 112-5 as Mahmood opened his account.

Mahmood had Butt caught by Waqas Shafique after reaching 35 then struck twice more in the space of three balls to leave Loughton 151-8.

Young leg-spinner Zohran Afzal claimed the ninth wicket to fall, before Mahmood completed his five-wicket haul with a return catch off his own bowling to dismiss Shaun Gymer (26) and wrap up the innings in the 37th over.

Mdaminul Islam Shihan (34) dominated a 53-run opening stand in just seven overs with Raihan Hussain to give Wood a solid platform in reply.

And Hussain added another 72 runs for the second wicket with Craig Perrin, hitting two sixes and six fours to reach 50 off 52 balls before falling to Butt.

The visitors needed just 52 runs from 32 overs at that point and eased to their target as Perrin hit 11 boundaries to finish unbeaten on 66 from 73 deliveries, with Chowdhury giving support as Wood moved to with 13 points of a promotion place.

Loughton, meanwhile, are 53 points adrift of safety at the other end of the table with only four matches remaining.