London Sports V Northern Galloways

London Sports V Northern Galloways BBS Primary Club KO Cup Preliminary Round

Saturday 13th May 2006

by Charles Ronayne

London Sports managed to win a match in the BBS Primary Club KO cup for the first time in recent seasons with an impressive 174 run victory against Northern Galloways in Seven Kings Park.

Galloways won the toss and elected to field. Although their side was only nine-strong, they boasted a very experienced and strong bowling line up, and soon had London in trouble, Haq Ismail playing on to his stumps off the impressive Mike Harrison and and Fiaz Iqbal also departing soon afterwards.

Both Shakir Iqbal and Chetan Davdra struggled to settle against the pace attack and both were dropped early on in their innings from skied shots which a low-sighted Northern field failed to pick up in gloomy skies. Once settled, however, both batsmen grew in confidence and combined well-timed shots and powerful strokes to put on around a hundred run partnership.

Chet was clean bowled in the thirteenth over but not before laying a firm base from which London could build, and continued to as Shakir shared healthy partnerships with Charles Ronayne and Khrum Rahman to take the London score to around 200. Then followed a seven-over onslaught brought on by three enforced low partial overs which were expertly capitalised on to accelerate London to the 279 mark.

It was a tough target for Northern to reach on a large outfield and they also struggled early on, having reached the 35 mark losing Mike Harrison and Darren Cook in quick succession. Despite some lusty blows from the Northern batsmen they failed to form a meaningful partnership to get them back into the game, only Dave Ellingham seeming able to stay in against an unorthodox in-out London field with five sometimes six people around the bat, forcing Northern to take risks and look aerial for runs, with the London fielding in the deep impeccable.

Northern were eventually all out for 105, with Ellingham the last man to go, to another excellent outfield catch low down by Davdra to mark a good day and a return to form by them. Thanks go to Northern for coming down on what was (probably) the longest trip to be made by any blind cricket team this season on such an awkward day as the FA cup final and with such a small team. London host South Wales in the next round and with a similar performance could well be looking for an upset.

	London V Galloways
	London Sports V Northern Galloways BBS Primary Club KO Cup Preliminary Round Saturday 13th May 2006 by Charles Ronayne London Sports managed to win a match in the BBS Primary Club KO cup for the first time in recent seasons with an impressive 174 run victory against Northern Galloways in Seven Kings Park. Galloways won the toss and elected to field. Although their side was only nine-strong, they boasted a very experienced and strong bowling line up, and soon had London in trouble, Haq Ismail playing on to his stumps off the impressive Mike Harrison and and Fiaz Iqbal also departing soon afterwards. Both Shakir Iqbal and Chetan Davdra struggled to settle against the pace attack and both were dropped early on in their innings from skied shots which a low-sighted Northern field failed to pick up in gloomy skies. Once settled, however, both batsmen grew in confidence and combined well-timed shots and powerful strokes to put on around a hundred run partnership. Chet was clean bowled in the thirteenth over but not before laying a firm base from which London could build, and continued to as Shakir shared healthy partnerships with Charles Ronayne and Khrum Rahman to take the London score to around 200. Then followed a seven-over onslaught brought on by three enforced low partial overs which were expertly capitalised on to accelerate London to the 279 mark. It was a tough target for Northern to reach on a large outfield and they also struggled early on, having reached the 35 mark losing Mike Harrison and Darren Cook in quick succession. Despite some lusty blows from the Northern batsmen they failed to form a meaningful partnership to get them back into the game, only Dave Ellingham seeming able to stay in against an unorthodox in-out London field with five sometimes six people around the bat, forcing Northern to take risks and look aerial for runs, with the London fielding in the deep impeccable. Northern were eventually all out for 105, with Ellingham the last man to go, to another excellent outfield catch low down by Davdra to mark a good day and a return to form by them. Thanks go to Northern for coming down on what was (probably) the longest trip to be made by any blind cricket team this season on such an awkward day as the FA cup final and with such a small team. London host South Wales in the next round and with a similar performance could well be looking for an upset.