Hosty goes big in 100th game as Edgware beat Kings Langley

Ciaran Hosty hit his third career hundred in his 100th match as Edgware Cricket Club broke records and beat Kings Langley to continue their terrific start to the Hertfordshire Saturday Cricket League season.

Edgware lost the toss and were sent into bat by the Kings Langley skipper and after a couple of early scares, the opening partnership of Ciaran Hosty and Nakul Jilka looked comfortable on what looked a decent wicket with exceptionally small boundaries.

Edgware moved to 50-0 without too much alarm before Nakul Jilka chipped the Kings Langley skipper Jamie Calvin to mid-wicket who took a sharp catch. Vidanda Galgamuwa then walked to the crease to join Hosty and after hitting a Sangakarra-esque cover drive, was caught at point off Calvin to leave Edgware 64-2.

Hosty was then joined by Rohan Garara who looked at his classy best and the two moved through the gears to put on 142 for the third wicket (an Edgware CC record). In the meantime, Ciaran Hosty hit his third career hundred off 91 balls including 11 sixes (also an Edgware CC record, surpassing Rahul Kothari's 10 in 2020). When Hosty fell for 125 off 101 balls, Edgware were 206-3 with 13 overs to go. Rohan Garara passed his 6th club fifty off just 40 balls a few balls later before Kabeer Soni (7), Nik Kothari (13) and Rohan himself (62) fell in quick succession to leave Edgware stuttering at 242-6 with 9 overs to go.

Then enter, Rahul Kothari. Rahul looked in complete control from the off and with Luke Molloy put on 71 for the 7th wicket with Rahul dispatching 5 sixes and 5 fours in a 31 ball, 59 (his 50 off 29 balls, the second fastest of all time). When Rahul fell, Edgware were 313-7 and hustled their way to 324-7 off 40 overs (their second ever highest score) as Ananya Dixit finished with a strike rate of 600 and Luke Molloy bettered his personal best, finishing on 10 not out.

In response, Kings Langley started aggressively and their openers looked to attack Edgware's opening partnership of Alpesh Gorsia and Dean Veerapen. Dean Veerapen though remained calm and removed both openers for 15 and 13 respectively to apply early pressure on Langley's middle order. Shortly after, Alpesh Gorsia claimed his 50th Edgware wicket as he delivered a searing delivery which caught the glove of Ben Templeton who was caught superbly at gully by the diving Kabeer Soni to put Edgware well and truly on top. Langley's number four, David Barton didn't last too much longer as he too was removed by Dean Veerapen caught behind by Nakul Jilka who looked (mostly) assured with the gloves.

Kings Langley's middle order showed good fight in the form of Luke Yates and Chris Whittaker before the dangerous Yates was unfortunately run out by Kabeer Soni after Chris Whittaker sliced a ball just short of the cover fielder and a suicidal run was taken. Rahul Kothari then entered the attack and his class immediately showed as he was far too quick for Chris Whittaker and removed the right handers off stump for a well fought 14. When Tim Parker fell for 2 a couple of overs later to Rahul Kothari, the writing was well and truly on the wall and Kings Langley ended their innings on 115 all out off 27.3 overs with Vidanda Galgamuwa, Ananya Dixit and Kabeer Soni picking up a wicket a piece in the final exchanges.

The 209 run win places Edgware in first place within Division 12 South of the Hertfordshire Saturday Cricket League after 5 games and the boys in blue will hope to build on this start as they push for promotion.