Weekly League roundup by George Watson
Week Eleven - 8 July 2018 (download report as a
PDF here) World Cup and sunshine ...
Division 1
The VPCCL continued this week among the scorching heat and England
reaching the World Cup semi-finals. Monday saw the Rose & Crown
maintain their 100 percent record with a decisive display over
Bansko Bears. Opting to bat first, the Bears struggled to stamp
their authority as they finished on 123-6 with Andy Butel (25) top
scoring. The Crown always looked in control with in-form Naq
Mangalagiri (33) and Charlie Challinor (33) guiding them to victory
in just 14.2 overs.
Tuesday saw Millwall continue their unbeaten run as they eased past
Best Nationals on pitch 2. The Nationals, opting to bat struck 140-6
in their allotted overs. Pratik Dewani (41) and Sajid Rehman (32)
top scoring. However a quick fifty from Arif Ahmed helped Millwall
to victory in just 10.2 overs finishing on 141-2.
Another strong contender this year, Sky, continued their fine form
as they over-powered a plucky youthful Stokey Scoundrels. Sky
smashed 219-1, with openers Sarfraz Ahmed and Noz Hussain both
retiring not out. A quick-fire fifty from Aleem Hussain helped Sky
pass two hundred. In response, Stokey lost two early wickets,
however fifties from skipper Riz Siddiqi and Ramiz Khan helped
Stokey to 167-4, 52 runs short.
Friends looked in superb nick against Mile Tailenders on Thursday
smashing 229-3 on pitch 1. Shahrukh Khan, Saif Mohammed all hit
fifties, alongside Mohammed Neveed whose fifty came off just 18
balls. A spirited 37 from John Speakman kept the Tailenders in with
a shout, but with his dismissal, the Tailenders fell short, bowled
out for 137.
Divison 2
Expats continued their superb run to make it five wins out of five,
with victory again Victoria Lounge on Monday. The Lounge, struck
165-6 with Chris Stevens (37) top scoring. The Australians' reply
looked all but over as they fell to 13-3 with Gary Flanagan taking
all three quick wickets. However, Alex Hickson and Mark Partridge
put on a superb partnership taking the match away from the Lounge.
Despite losing wickets after their partnership, Partridge returned
to the crease and finished on 61, leading the Expats to victory with
an over to spare.
Broadway returned to winning ways against L&Q Living, winning by 5
wickets. L&Q struck 125-4, Rizwan Siddique hitting a quick-fire
twenty- five. In reply, skipper Ed Sherwood led the way with an
unbeaten 50 as Broadway chased down their target in 12.3 overs.
Crossrail continued their superb with a superb victory over Masiha
on Wednesday, Masiha, fielding a player who had only arrived from
New York a day earlier, struck 163-3, Dani Domine (50) and Ian
Blackwell (47) top scoring. In response, Ed Hamlin hit a blistering
50, with some delightful batting from Mohammed Iqbal (38) helped
Crossrail to victory in 14.5 overs.
Camel Light eased past Pacific in pitch 3. Chasing down 109 thanks
to 26 from Mike Gubbay the Camels reached their target in 14 overs,
thanks to fifty from skipper Tom Porter.
Cup Quarter Finals
Thursday saw unbeaten Rose & Crown and Millwall meet head to head
for a place in the semi finals of the cup.
Millwall won the toss and elected to bat, on pitch 3. Openers Arif
Rahman and F. Rahman looked in superb form, smashing quick-fire
fifties and hitting several sixes. Mohammed Salman joined in the
hitting as he finished on 50 as Millwall finished on an imposing
197-1. The Crown struggled to gain any momentum their chase as
Millwall bowled superbly, knocking them out for just 89, Joe Fisher
top scoring with 24.