Edgware hold off Harrow St Mary's to secure promotion

Every time I turn up to watch an Edgware game I hope, I just hope that maybe we'll have a straightforward victory. Instead, I often require a lie down and a change of underwear after an extremely tight finish.

Two months ago Edgware were all but out of the promotion race in the Chess Valley League Division 4. A devastating loss to Greenwood Park was swiftly followed by a one-wicket loss to fellow promotion challengers Chingford CC. The mood amongst the camp had shifted rather quickly from one of hope and dreams to one of a recognition of a tough fight to remain in division 4. However, a win against Cockfosters in which Jude Saverus picked up 5-34 seemed to change the season's course. Edgware soon made it two wins on the bounce after an absolute thriller against North London and after Redbourn were unable to put out a side on World Cup final day, Edgware's sat with a 3-2 record going into the final round of games.

The equation was simple, Edgware needed to win to give them a shot of promotion and hope other results went their way. With an unsettled forecast for the afternoon and a grassy wicket on show on the back pitch at Mill Hill Village, Edgware elected to bowl. At one stage, it seemed as if it that decision may have backfired as the Harrow St Mary's openers tucked into Edgware's opening seam attack of Rahul Kothari and Raj Parmar. However, with the score at 87-1, Ananya Dixit stepped in to deliver one of the finest spells of bowling this Edgware side had ever seen. Over the course of the next 45 minutes, Ananya Dixit proceeded to take 7-36 off 7.4 overs as Harrow St Marys lost 8 wickets for 51 runs to finish on 138-9 after 29.4 overs. Edgware were on course.

At the halfway stage, myself and the rest of the Edgware team would have been quietly confident of a victory. However, we all know that this is never how the story goes. Nakul Jilka continued his fantastic form and cracked a sensational 40 off 22 balls including 7 fours and 2 sixes to race Edgware to 61-0. Unfortunately Nakul was then bowled attempting to hit another four and one soon became two as Ciaran Hosty then fell to leave Edgware 72-2. Then came the collapse. In a crazy 15 minutes of cricket, Edgware were reduced to 89-6 as the pressure started to kick in. Dean Verapeen and Sajith Sriwickramasekaran shared a vital partnership of 21, before Dean held out to mid-on with a further 29 runs required. Then for Edgware, a bit of luck. A downpour followed and substantial time was lost from the game. Out popped the calculator and Edgware's target had reduced by 12 runs to 127 from 41 overs.

Sajith Sriwickramasekaran then set about his task and was aided courageously by Suraj Kerai who made a determined 7 off 13 deliveries to bring Edgware on the brink. When Suraj was caught to leave Edgware 123-8, a further four runs were required with two wickets remaining. One run followed another, which followed another and Edgware were in sight of a famous victory. The Harrow St Mary's bowler delivered the ball which skimmed Jude Saverus' bat on its way down the leg side and past the keeper and victory was secured! An emphatic 2-wicket victory and just in time as the rain started to come down again, far heavier than the first.

The boys then travelled to Adam & Eve for a post-game beer and were delighted to find out that Greenwood's game had been called off due to the weather and North London had lost, to guarantee Edgware with a second promotion in two years! What a way to cap off another excellent year for the boys in blue. Bring on division 3!

P.s. A special note to Ciaran, Sajith, Jude, Rahul and Nakul who all received their baggy blues. An honour reserved for all players who earn more than 25 caps.