Galgamuwa 5-for stuns Greenwood Park
It was billed as biggest game in Edgware history, the clash of the titans, first vs second place in the Chess Valley League Division 5 and it didn't disappoint.
Edgware knew a win against promotion rivals Greenwood Park at the ECG would give them a significant boost to claiming top spot in the league. On what was a scorching day, captain Ciaran Hosty won the toss and elected to bat, to the sheer amazement of his team.
Edgware started their innings briskly with Nakul Jilka continuing his fine form which had seen him rack up two half centuries already this season. His fellow opener, Ciaran Hosty was also in fine form having just completed an unbeaten 100 the game previous and the two batsmen pushed in pursuit of a 100-run opening stand. Skipper Hosty was first to the 50 mark after whipping opposite captain, Shafaat Hussain hard through a vacant mid on. Nakul Jilka was next to reach the mark, on his way to what would be a fine 69 off 74 deliveries. However, with 129 on the board, Edgware finally lost their first wicket as Hosty was bowled from a ball which deviated off the seam and uprooted his off stump. As is always the case in cricket, one soon became two as a couple of deliveries later Shuraj Vekaria was caught for a duck to reduce Edgware to 129-2.
Edgware then began to struggle as Nakul and Sajith were out in quick succession, the latter in a disastrous run out with batsman Kishan Patel. With the score reduced again to 172-6, Edgware looked to have thrown away what was a tremendous start, however, Kishan Patel stepped up for Edgware and played a great innings, hitting 60 off 54 balls, batting at number 5. Kishan was well supported by Jude Saverus and Vidanda Galgamuwa who together helped push Edgware up to 247 all out off 44.3 overs, incidentally Edgware's second highest score of all time.
Greenwood appeared to be fairly confident at the halfway stage and Edgware were told that they should prepare plenty of balls for the thunderstorm of sixes to come from Greenwood's big hitters. However an inspired spell from Edgware CC opening bowler Rahul Kothari reduced the visitors to 14-2 and Edgware appeared to be in control. What followed was Greenwood:s big hitting. The visitors raced to 80-2 in 14 overs, punishing anything slightly full or offline from the Edgware seamers.
The captain then turned to his star bowler of 2018, Vidanda Galgamuwa. Vidanda:s accuracy, skill and noticeably his lack of speed appeared to completely bamboozle an opposition who looked unstuck against any bowling with any pace taken off. Vidanda took 5-31, including the danger-man Shafaat Hussain as Greenwood imploded from 80-2 to 115 all out, an incredible 8 wickets for just 35 runs. Nakul Jilka pitched in with 2-9 off 3 overs and Rahul Kothari finished with 3-40 off 7 overs, a spell which kept Edgware in the hunt early in the innings against some aggressive hitting.
The win was Edgware:s greatest in terms of margin and cemented their place at the top of the Chess Valley League Division 5. Edgware will now require at least one more win against either Belmont & Edgware or Octopus to secure first place.
