Played at Hadley Field, Cockfosters
Report by Steve
Hamilton
A successful start to the season for all the Old Fallopians
teams, as both midweek teams won their fixtures at Victoria Park and
I felt we needed to round off the week with another victory!
We had strayed into unknown territory as we were up against a new
opposition based in Cockfosters. The team, Southgate Compton, were a
mixture of young and old players. We were greeted with a friendly
welcome and also a well-manicured cricket pitch.
It was a bit
nippy with bright sunshine at times, temperature 13 c.
I lost
the toss and the opposition decided to bat. We had an early success
after Furqan came on for the first over and bowled Brazier with his
fifth ball, a well-disguised inswinger. He was well supported at the
other by Shahzad who proved too quick for Shearley, clean bowling
him for eight.
Ahmed, our top wicket-taker of 2020, did not
take long to get his first wicket of the season. In fact he removed
Baxter for a duck with only his second delivery.
After 11
overs Southgate were reeling at 30 for 3 and we were in well in
control. However, the home team consolidated and reached 70 without
the loss of further wickets, thanks to a partnership between the
senior players Brandon and Deleep. But just as the pair looked in
control, Ahmed struck again, taking the wicket of Deleep for 23.
Debutants Ali Nawaz and Kalyan Boosara bowled with control and
were rewarded with figures of 4-0-12-0 and 2-0-12-0 respectively.
At the halfway point of the 40-over match Southgate had reached
a solid 102 for 4. Then the real magic started!
I came on
bowl and decided to unleash my box of tricks. In my first over I
gave some flight to the ball, tempting the batsman Kash to come and
take me on. Well, he did connect but not well enough, as Shahzad at
deep long on effortlessly held a difficult skier.
My second
over was slightly better. In fact it was a double-wicket maiden! The
first ball was another flighted delivery, mistimed by Nowman and hit
to mid off, where Ahmed was waiting to gather the catch. Two balls
later I delivered a quicker, flatter ball that hit the off stump and
removed their dangerous opening batsman Brandon for 43.
With
the score barely higher at 105 for 7, debutants Ryan La Croix and
Bradley Prospere bowled well, displaying their teamwork by each
taking a catch off the other's bowling.
At 111 for 9 it
looked like game over. However, Southgate were to put on a further
43 before we eventually removed the final wicket.
Molloy,
their tall and young number 11 was finding the boundary with ease,
hitting a couple of big sixes and three fours in a quickfire 32,
supported at the other end by Karnan (12 not out).
In the end
I had had enough and put myself back on to end our misery. I managed
to get a little bit of turn that pitched outside off and hit the top
of middle to remove Molloy. I ended with modest figures of
3.3-1-7-4. Mention should also be made of the fielding contribution
from the strong arm of another debutant, Sam Mole.
Chasing
155 to win, our openers Asad Mushtaq and Mole did not disappoint as
they scored freely and played with an inner calm. We reached 95 with
our opening stand before Mole fell for 38 and then Mushtaq shortly
after for 43. This sparked a mini-collapse as another two wickets
fell to leave us at 123 for 4.
Mo Junaid, top run scorer of
2020, took us home with a patient no-nonsense 32 not out, supported
at the other end by Jakaria Ahmed (9).
It was an enjoyable
day all round and played in good spirit. A return match is on the
cards as have been invited to play here again next season.
.JPG) |
Weekend winners: (L-R kneeling) Jakaria Ahmed,
son of Kalyan, Ali Nawaz: (L-R standing) Kalyan Boosara,
Umair
Shahzad, Mo Junaid, Steve Hamilton, Bradley Prospere, Waseem Furqan,
Asad Mushtaq, Sam Mole,
Ryan La Croix
Photo: Tim Castle
Many more photos from the game
here (opens in new window) |
.JPG) |
Sunday blast:
Mo Junaid smashes the ball towards the boundary (and the
photographer!)
Photo: Tim Castle
Many more photos from the game
here (opens in new window) |
.JPG) |
Warm in the sun:
Old Fallopians at the crease during the match at Hadley Field
Photo: Tim Castle
Many more photos from the game
here (opens in new window) |
|
.JPG)