Adam Winchester continues to find himself in the runs but his efforts can’t stop Harpenden losing out to Harrow St Mary in remarkable finish

ADAM Winchester continued his blistering start to the season with a 51-ball 59 but it wasn’t enough as Harpenden Sunday XI lost out by one wicket in an exciting match with Harrow St Mary on Bank Holiday Monday.

The elegant batsmen already has a century and another fifty to his name this season and looks set to feature for the first XI in their Home Counties Premier League Division One campaign once his university commitments allow.

The 22-year-old’s efforts – which included six 4s and a 6 – were in vain on Monday though as the visitors recorded the narrowest of victories, hitting a six of the last ball of the game to seal the win.

Things had started well for Harpenden with another Winchester, this time Mark, putting on 102 for the first wicket with James Latham.

Mark Winchester eventually fell for 55 to Sam Blennerhassett who also claimed the scalp of Latham, caught by Ashan Devinda.

That bought Adam Winchester to the crease and despite losing Jake Pankhurst for 8, Harpenden continued to push on.

Winchester and Aussie batting star Ben Clements put on 86 for the fourth wicket before the latter’s quickfire knock ended when he was bowled by Howard.

Terry McGrath (11) and Sam Wiese (4) came and went cheaply and it was left to Clements to take the home side past 250. The Melbourne man smashed five 4s on his way to 48 before Abid Yasin ended his resistance trapping the batsmen lbw. Bryn and Ceri Luffman both added a single to the scoreboard as Harpenden ended their 40 overs on 256-7.

Howard and Liyanage got the visitors off to a steady start in reply but Joe Peck struck to dismiss Howard caught by Mark Winchester for 35.

Liyanage and Blennerhassett took the score to 94 before Pankhurst bowled Liyanage and things seemed to be going the home side’s way when Pankhurst removed Tom Pettet for 17.

Blennerhassett had other ideas though crashing eight 4s and a six on his way to 67. Harpenden’s other Aussie star Sam Wiese claimed the all important wicket thanks to Peck’s catch but Blennerhassett had put the visitors within striking distance of the victory.

Wiese went on to collect the wickets of Yasin and Ashan Devinda as the home side looked to bowl Harrow out.

Shaluka Gunasekera need six from the last ball to win it for the visitors and the batsmen duly obliged finishing on 45* in a remarkable finish.