A belated report on last Saturday's MCCL fixtures. The 1's lost the toss at Teddington and, for much of the host's innings, contained Teddington well. However, once again, dropped catches played a part, Williams in particular being given a life on 10 and going on to make 90. However, on an excellent pitch, a target of 246b was achievable should we bat well. At 127 for 1 and both Tanmay Thanawalla and skipper, Will Phillips, well set, we appeared to be in control. However, the loss of 4 wickets for just 24 runs, turned the game on its head. Adam London batted brilliantly to take us past 200 but Teddington fought hard and, in the end, there was simply too much to do to get across the line. A match that left the 1's disappointed not to have won, but credit to Teddington who proved why they are the current favourites to win the title.
Teddington 2's are also a very strong outfit and so it proved at Old Deer Park as they blew our batting away for just 75. Once again, at 52 for 2 and on a dead pitch, Richmond seemed on course to get a reasonable score but it was not to be. The visitors knocked off the total for the loss of just 1 wicket.
As in week 1, whilst the 1's and 2's went down, the 3's, 4's and 5's all won. James O'Farrell's 3s scored 333 for 8 off 45, largely thanks to a rapid ton from Huzefa Sajawal and great support from Dru Shori (41), Pete Louwrens (65 not out) & Barnaby Cole (44 not out). On a small ground, North London's response was good but not quite good enough as the hosts finished on 312 for 8.
The 4's scored a spectacular victory over Winchmore Hill 3's. An opening partnership of 284 between skipper Rhodri Evans (107) and Under 16 Josh Dudley, 151, set us up for a mammoth 404 for 4 off 45. The Hill were always going to struggle to overhaul such a target and were dismissed for 142. Sadly the 10 points won in such spectacular fashion were subsequently taken away after we discovered and confessed to having played an unregistered overseas player in the first two matches. The MCCL has applied the standard fine of 5 points per infraction (despite us bringing to the League's attention) and we have to accept it.
The 5's recorded their 3rd win of the season with a 66 run win over Harrow St Mary's 3's. Once again Rashid Mushtaq's half-century in quick time was of note as was a tail-end contribution of 40 from Syed Wasi Ali. Syed also picked up 3 for 23 as HSM were dismissed for 155.
On Sunday the 1's were handed a walkover by Twickenham who had arranged a charity day without remembering that they also had a Middlesex Cup commitment to fulfil. Meanwhile, the Women's 1st XI scored 204 for 3 in their Surrey Women's Cricket League Elite T20 match against Malden Wanderers. Skipper Sarah Blythe Wood and our overseas signing Simran Choudhary flayed the Malden Wanderers' attack both retiring on 60 and 61 respectively and helping Richmond to set up a 97 run win.