Bessborough Cricket Club

Saturday 31 May 2014
MIDDLESEX CHAMPIONSHIP CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Bessborough 1st XI 204-8 (55 overs)
Crouch End 1st XI 112-9 (45 overs)
Winning draw for Bessborough

MIDDLESEX COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION THREE
Brentham 2nd XI 87 all out (38.5 overs)
Bessborough 2nd XI 90-7 (39.4 overs)
Bessborough won by 3 wickets

MIDDLESEX 1987 CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Bessborough 3rd XI 156 all out (44.1 overs)
Enfield 3rd XI 202-3 dec (38 overs)
Enfield won by 46 runs

MIDDLESEX 1987 CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION FIVE
Stanmore 4th XI 94 all out (35.2 overs)
Bessborough 4th XI 204-9 (50 overs)
Bessborough won by 110 runs

Sunday 1 June 2014
FRIENDLY
Bessborough 216-7 (40 overs)
Sky Sports Active 122 all out (27 overs)
Bessborough won by 94 runs

Bessborough made to wait for first league win

Bessborough’s First Eleven fell agonisingly short of its first Middlesex Championship win of the season last Saturday when they were unable to claim the final Crouch End wicket at Headstone Manor.

After being rained off last weekend, a positive result was vital for Bessborough who had first use of the wicket after losing the toss and being put in to bat. In helpful bowling conditions, run scoring was difficult throughout, especially against the new ball and Bessborough had to recover from the early wickets of Ishan Shah (4) and Tharshan Kanagaraj (6) who were both dismissed in single figures.

Opener Ramesh Gunalan was forced to hold the innings together especially when the middle order of Jigar Shah (9), Ian Barrie (2) and Talha Junaid (6) were also dismissed cheaply. Gunalan scored a brilliantly patient 67 off 150 balls to give Bessborough the foundations of a big total.

When he was dismissed in the 36th over, Bessborough slumped to 124-6 and were in danger of being bowled out for less than 150. Vice-captain Alex Irani (29 not out) and Vivek Patel (37 not out) looked to rebuild the innings and a partnership of 43 helped Bessborough reach a competitive total of 204-8 from 55 overs.

With Crouch End looking to make a fast start, they were forced to put their handbrake on when Khan was brilliantly run out by Ian Barrie. Crouch End were never able to attack an excellent Bessborough attack with seamers Talha Junaid (1-21) and Amrit Ryatt (1-41) producing good spells without getting the wickets they deserved.

Once again the wickets fell to the excellent spin pair of captain Rohan Karkhanis (3-16) and Mitesh Vyas (4-25) who took 7 wickets for just 41 runs in their 23 overs combined. A spate of wickets reduced Crouch End to 91-8 with 9 overs remaining with Bessborough looking favourites to claim victory. Despite captain Karkhanis mixing up the bowlers and getting the ninth wicket himself in the final over, the last wicket that would have brought home the 10 points proved elusive. 

Bessborough 2s picked up their first win over the season against an impressive Brentham side in Ealing. Captain Phil Bush won the toss and in helpful bowling conditions had no hesitation in inviting the opposition to bat first. Brentham were never able to get the innings going and were bowled out for only 87 in less than 39 overs. The wickets were shared around with Kibreeth Rameez (2-25), Steve Kimsey (2-4) and Nitin Modha (2-9) all picking up two wickets apiece. The star performer with the ball however was opening bowler Sharuban Kanthasamy who picked up 3 wickets for only 25 runs.

In reply Bessborough were quickly in trouble losing two quick wickets with only six runs on the board. Captain and Vice-captain Phil Bush (11) and Adil Parker (17) rebuilt the innings in trying conditions to put on a partnership of 29 to steady the nerves. A rush of wickets saw Bessborough go from 37-2 to 67-7 and back under pressure but Kibreeth Rameez (22 not out) and Kanthasamy (17 not out) saw the team home.

The third eleven slipped to their second defeat of the season losing by 46 runs at home to Enfield. After being put into bat Enfield declared on a very competitive 202-3 in only 38 overs. The third eleven were never in the hunt and were bowled out in 44 overs with only vice-captain Cecil Dinesh putting up any resistance with an innings of 41.

Tom Newland was the star for the fourth eleven with his six wickets leading them to their second win of the season over top of the table Stanmore.

Stand in captain Richard Ward won the toss and elected to bat and proved an excellent decision as his charges ended on 204-9 off 50 overs. Debutant Eddie Idrees was the star scoring 63, while Adil Patel (43) and Ward (26 not out) also chipped in with valuable contributions. Stanmore’s reply was decimated by the brilliance of Newland who claimed his 6 wickets for only 25 runs in a 12-over spell.

On Sunday, Bessborough beat a Sky Sports Active team on the sunniest day of the season so far at Headstone Manor. Bessborough made an excellent start after winning the toss and electing to bat with openers Nirav Ghantiwala (28) and James Wheeler (29) putting on 57 in 10 overs for the first wicket. A flurry of wickets saw Bessborough fall to 80-4 and then 119-6. A brilliant innings from Andy Carr who scored a quick fire 69 gave Bessborough a competitive total of 216 off 40 overs. Carr was helped in an 89 run partnership by Praekash Balendra who scored an excellent 30 not out.

The Sky Sports reply was always struggling when opener Hirst was dismissed by Tom Newland for just 10. An unlikely spin combination of Phil Bush and Adil Parker promptly picked up 7 wickets with Bush especially impressive picking up 4-25 in only 6 overs. Sky Sports were never in the hunt and were eventually bowled out for 122 in only 27 overs.