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Clean sweep in Week 5 brings 50 points
Chris Goldie4 Jun 2023 - 07:54
All 5 Richmond sides began June with league wins. Some were easy, some were tight but all were satisfying.
An excellent Saturday for Richmond saw wins across the board and 50 points for the club. The 1's travelled to Harrow St Mary's who just missed out on promotion in 2022 and are among those who many fancy to compete for the Division 1 title. Deprived of a few regular players, Richmond recalled former skipper Will Phillips and 18 year old Alex Zotov whilst giving a 1st XI League debut to 17 year old Charlie Nelson. Harrow St Mary's won the toss and invited the 1's to bat. Ben Ward and Greg King were both dismissed early to leave us 18 for 2. However the experience of Phillips and the determination of Nelson resulted in a partnership of 104 and carried us to a platform to move on. Both played very well with Nelson's maturity shining through. After he was dismissed for 64, skipper Adam London joined his predecessor to add a further 74. At 196 for 3, Richmond should have been looking at a score in excess of 250 but London's dismissal, followed by Phillips 11 runs later, led to a disappointing end to our innings as we lost our last 6 wickets for just 22 runs. A good start with the ball was needed and Ishaan Kaushul took two wickets in 3 balls to leave the hosts 3 for 2. However, a good stand between Pretlove and Pettit put them back on track. Step up Alex Zotov who took two quick wickets and figures for 4 overs, 4 for 2. Ben Ward then took a 5th and with HSM on 71 for 5, a comfortable victory seemed to be in sight. However, former Middlesex player and HSM skipper Ravi Patel had other ideas. A 60 run partnership with Blennerhasset and a 33 run partnership with Thakkar brought his side back into the game. Richmond chipped away with both Nelson and Phillips taking crucial wickets. Still HSM were not done but Richmond's bowlers - Ward, Kashaul and Phillips - gave little away and the rate rose. Ward dismissed Joseph with the score on 179 but Patel and Conraide added 35 and left the hosts needing 14 off the last over. Ryan Quinn returned to bowl the last over. Patel scored two off the first (almost run out in the process) and then a single. The third ball saw Quinn bowl Conraide and brought in HSM's number 11. A bye was scampered to the keeper meaning Patel needing to hit 10 off the last two ball. He was not able to as Quinn kept an immaculate line to deny any further runs and a win by 9 runs. This victory keeps the 1's at the top of the Division, 7 points ahead of Acton. Harrow Town, something of an unknown quantity after back to back promotions in the last two years, visit ODP next Saturday for the first of 9 win, lose, draw matches.
The 2's were also inserted in their game at ODP and for the second League game running a score of over 300 was achieved. There were runs for Will Hunt (70), KD (59), Chris Laws (50) and skipper Zain Bhatkar (43) as Richmond reached 311 for 6 off 45. This was a total that Finchley would struggle to overtake and so it proved. Another 17 year old, Will Knowles followed his 4 wickets last week with 5 for 33 this week and Finchley were done and dusted, 9 down and 170 behind. Fair to say Richmond took their foot off the gas and the final pair added 70 for the last wicket but the result was never in doubt as Richmond won, eventually, by 97 runs. The 2's are joint top with Highgate who they play next Saturday.
The 3's maintained their 100% win record as they beat Brondesbury 3's by 8 runs. We scored 180 and Bron 172. The win sees the 3's occupy 1st place on their own, 9 points clear after both Ealing and Barnes lost.
The 4's had a much needed won over Hampstead 4's scoring 212 for 9. There were half-centuries for Daniel Willis and Rory Allen. 15 year old Luka Fearn's 4 for 20 led the way as Hampstead were dismissed for 171. The 4's move up to 7th but are only 2 points behind 3rd. Next Saturday they travel to Winchmore Hill who have had a dreadful start to the season. The 5's racked up a magnificent 365 for 5 off 45 with Danish Usmani's 125 not out the highlight. There were also half-centuries for Wasi Ali (66 not out) and Rashid Mushtaq (51). Twickenham 4's made a valiant effort responding with 279 for 9 - Tanzeel Ur Rahman was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 40. The 5's move up to 3rd place and travel to bottom of the table Southgate next Saturday.
All in all, an excellent Saturday for Richmond and hopefully not the last clean sweep of the season ahead.
The 2's were also inserted in their game at ODP and for the second League game running a score of over 300 was achieved. There were runs for Will Hunt (70), KD (59), Chris Laws (50) and skipper Zain Bhatkar (43) as Richmond reached 311 for 6 off 45. This was a total that Finchley would struggle to overtake and so it proved. Another 17 year old, Will Knowles followed his 4 wickets last week with 5 for 33 this week and Finchley were done and dusted, 9 down and 170 behind. Fair to say Richmond took their foot off the gas and the final pair added 70 for the last wicket but the result was never in doubt as Richmond won, eventually, by 97 runs. The 2's are joint top with Highgate who they play next Saturday.
The 3's maintained their 100% win record as they beat Brondesbury 3's by 8 runs. We scored 180 and Bron 172. The win sees the 3's occupy 1st place on their own, 9 points clear after both Ealing and Barnes lost.
The 4's had a much needed won over Hampstead 4's scoring 212 for 9. There were half-centuries for Daniel Willis and Rory Allen. 15 year old Luka Fearn's 4 for 20 led the way as Hampstead were dismissed for 171. The 4's move up to 7th but are only 2 points behind 3rd. Next Saturday they travel to Winchmore Hill who have had a dreadful start to the season. The 5's racked up a magnificent 365 for 5 off 45 with Danish Usmani's 125 not out the highlight. There were also half-centuries for Wasi Ali (66 not out) and Rashid Mushtaq (51). Twickenham 4's made a valiant effort responding with 279 for 9 - Tanzeel Ur Rahman was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 40. The 5's move up to 3rd place and travel to bottom of the table Southgate next Saturday.
All in all, an excellent Saturday for Richmond and hopefully not the last clean sweep of the season ahead.
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