Victoria Park Community Cricket League

President's match report - by Rizwan Siddiqui

23 April 2018

On a cloudy chilly evening the President's men gathered to take on league champions the Rose & Crown in the traditional opening game of the season. The President's men were heartened to see the evergreen Bert Vandermark (who has been associated with cricket at Victoria Park for over six decades and the league for 29 of its 30 years), life president and the first lady Rita, join them on this auspicious occasion (see photo below).

Rizwan Siddiqui, captain of the President's VIII won the toss and elected to field , and with Tom Hughes of London Fields anchoring the innings with a run a ball 50, the score reached 102 in the 14th over. It was at this juncture that Salman of London Tigers and Rizwan got to the crease and hammered the champions all over the park to score 46 runs in 12 balls and end on 149-4 off the allotted 16 overs.

Rose and Crown in reply were shackled early on by tight bowling from Salman and Altaf (Friends CC) but the big hitting No 3 soon upped the ante, taking a particular liking to Farhad (Old Fallopians CC) and Saj Rehman's (Best National) wrist spin. With nine needed off the last over and three off the last ball, the ball was hit to deep point for two and there ended the contest in a tie. A just result for a game played in excellent spirit and a fitting way to start the 2018 season.

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Bert and Rita Vandermark at the President's Match, April 23, 2018              Photo by Saj Rehman