12th August 2009

3rd XI Show the Way

It was the 3rd XI who provided the cheer this weekend just gone, whilst it was a weekend to forget for the top two teams. The 1st XI hosted Pinner, and slipped to defeat trying to chase a winning draw after Nisar Abbas had taken 6-68 to restrict Pinner to 216, but despite 48 from Dave Hinnigan, some tight bowling from the visitors saw them take a deserved 30 points. The 2nd XI were left kicking themselves, after bowling out North Middlesex for just 128, but a batting collapse saw us slip up to just 89 all out, handing the hosts the points. The 3rd XI took on Perivale, and bowled them out for 216, and unlike the 1st XI, made easy work of chasing it down, with the in form Errol Crawford crashing his way to 141 not out, as we won by 9 wickets. The 4th XI slipped up against South Hampstead, being dismissed for just 125, but they almost made a game of it, as they took 5 of the hosts' wickets before slipping to defeat. Sunday saw the 1st XI host Chorleywood in the Chess Valley league, and secure an impressive win, with Adam Herron scoring 102 out of 239. In reply, the visitors looked to be struggling, as they lost wickets at regular intervals, with Adam Lord picking up 3 wickets in 2 impressive spells. The 3rd XI took on Mill Hill Scorpions, and posted 206-7, with Tom Pratt top scoring with 64, but the visitors proved too strong, chasing down our total for the loss of just 4 wickets in 30 overs.

4th August 2009

2nd XI Defy the Weather to Win

It was a wet Saturday this weekend just gone, and one that didn't really help the 1st XI's cause, as they took on Harrow St Marys at the old Old Millhillians (if you get my drift) ground, and came away with 17 points from a winning draw. Fielding first, we managed to keep the hosts to 182-8, which looked to be a decent score on a pitch that offered a little seam movement, but in a rain affected second half, we had to settle for 75-5 from 21 overs. Pick of the performers were Nisar Abbas who took 4-42, and Rasheed Iqbal who took 3-41. The 2nd XI took on Bessborough at home, and defied the weather to take 10 points, thanks to some inspired bowling from Ciaran Dodds, who bagged 5 wickets, as the visitors were skittled for just 48. In reply, there were some nervy moments as we slipped to 5-3, but some sensible batting saw us home with 7 wickets to spare. The 4th XI took on Southgate, and in a rain affected game had to settle for 127-2 chasing 197-8 after 5-54 from Archie MacArthur. The 5th XI were set 235 by North London, and despite the best efforts of skipper Alan Lord, and Charlie Peat, who both scored 50's, we had to settle for 195-6. Sunday saw the 1st XI take on a strong looking Harrow side away from home, and with a depleted side slip to a heavy defeat. Despite 3 wickets from Wali Khan, the hosts posted 328 from 45 overs, and we were never in the hunt, despite 73 from Khan, and 49 from Alan Barnard. The 3rd XI took on Waltham Cross Conservative Club and posted 246-2, with John Hinnigan and Micky Billson both scoring half centuries. The visitors were then bowled out for just 63 with Tony Barker taking 4-29, and Jack Aylott taking 3-23.

23rd July 2009

3rd & 4th XI Show The Way

This weekend just gone proved to be a mixed weekend for the club, with the 1st XI taking a winning draw, the 2nd XI losing, but the 3rd XI and 4th XI both picking up valuable wins to help their respective 1978 League promotion pushes. Starting with the 1st XI, who travelled to Crouch End Calthorpe, restricting the hosts to 154 on a slow pitch with Rizwan Naseer and Nisar Abbas sharing 7 wickets. The run chase didn't go quite according to script, and Alan Barnard and Kevin Lawrence had to see out the last few overs as we settled for a winning draw. The 2nd XI slipped up at home to Old Actonians, being bowled out for just 166 - the visitors passing our total for 7, in spite of Ciaran Dodds picking up 4 wickets. The 3rd XI took on Harrow St Marys, and came away with a win after chasing down 201 with Paul Baker picking up 4-54, and Colin Bennett scoring 50. The 4th XI bowled out Brondesbury for 145, and chased down for the loss of 7, with Arthurvan Manoharan taking 4-22. Sunday saw an unlikely win for the 1st XI against Potters Bar, with Basil Akram, Chris Arul and Alan Barnard all scoring 50+ in our total of 261-5. In reply, the hosts were always up with the rate, but wickets for Adam Lord, Nelson Arul, Jack Lord and Danny Muschamp saw us win by 30 runs. The 2nd XI took on Southgate Compton and their score of 275-5 was more than enough as the visitors stuttered to 119-8.

13th July 2009

1st XI Remain Top

It was another positive weekend for the club, as the 1st XI came away from a game against Turnham Green missing 7 regulars with 26 points after persistent light rain threatened to end play early. Batting first, we started positively with Dave Hinnigan and Safir Butt scoring in the 40s, however a batting collapse led to us stuttering to 179-9. Last pair Kyle Lawrence and Gavin Mardell batted sensibly to put on 41, and set 220-9 from 52. A rapid opening spell from Wali Khan, and some tight bowling from Nisar Abbas (5-44) ensured that we remained in control, and the visitors had to settle for 150-8. The 2nd XI had their game abandoned after 19 overs of the second innings, as Wembley stuttered towards our total of 184 after Ash Perera had scored a half century. The 3rd XI took on local rivals Enfield, and chased down their total of 234-5 thanks in the most part to Colin Bennett's 75, 63 from Errol Crawford's and 51 from Randy Noel. The 4th XI took on Acton at Hydeside, and came away with a draw after the visitors had posted 279. Martin Loveday (75 not out) and Jay Pandit were in the runs. The 5th XI secured another victory away to Hornsey. Sunday saw just the one game, as we took on Wenlock at home. Batting first, we posted 171-7 in 35 overs, whilst the visitors could only muster 110-5 in reply from their 35 overs.

6th July 2009

1sts 4ths and 5ths All Win

The First XI set the standard this weekend just gone, securing victory away to Glaxo to remain one point clear at the top of the Middlesex Championship. Bowling first, we restricted the hosts to 177 from 53 overs, thanks to 5 wickets from Nisar Abbas and two apiece from Wali Khan and Rizwan Nasser. The run chase was mostly straightforward with contributions from the in-form Chris Arul, Adeel Saeed, Nisar Abbas and wicketkeeper Adam Herron. The 2nd XI had to fight hard to secure a draw against a strong-looking South Hampstead team, as they held out with just one wicket in hand, Ciaran Dodds stepping up with a battling not out at the end. The 3rd XI had a bad day at the office, losing out to Alexandra Park, after being bowled out for less than 100. The 4th XI fared better, however, as stand in skipper Alan Porter made it 2 wins from 2 as we posted 278-6 courtesy of 76 from Jay Pandit, and 72 not out from Paul Hare. In reply, Mill Hill Village could only muster 120 all out, as Gilchrist Thomas took 5-35. The 5th XI took on Ickenham, and bowled them out for 176. It was especially pleasing to see two youngsters batting well - brothers Kazim (69) and Asif Bacchus (71) ensuring that we chased down for the loss of just two wickets. Sunday saw the 2nd XI lose out in the league to Mill Hill Village, as the hosts posted 312, and we could only manage 132 all out. The 3rd XI took on Alderton, and bowled them out for 185, after posting 253-7, with Micky Billson taking 4-21 and Alain Erasmus scoring 75. With the Sunday 1st XI not having a fixture, we used the spare pitch for a friendly against Ruislip, and in a high scoring game we came out just on top after batting first, and scoring 344-6 - Imran Bacchus scoring 102 not out. In reply, Ruislip scored 321-9, with Glenn Brown picking up 4-51.