Jilka and the boys sizzle to secure first ever Herts League win

Stand in captain Nakul Jilka led the way with a chance-less 91 as Edgware Cricket Club proved too hot to handle in their first ever Hertfordshire Saturday Cricket League fixture against West Herts on Saturday.

The day didn't start perfectly however as Nakul Jilka lost the toss and was put into bat on what seemed to be a green seamer with variable bounce. West Herts looked a good outfit with the ball and applied some early pressure with Hosty dropped early at slip for just 4. However, as the overs passed, so did Edgware's control of the game and the ever present opening partnership of Nakul Jilka and Ciaran Hosty passed 50 in the 9th over. The spin duo of Khan and Thangiah looked most threatening as the partnership progressed but as both openers past their 50's, Nakul Jilka started to propel towards what looked like a 4th Edgware hundred. Ciaran Hosty retired hurt on 84 off 82 balls, seemingly not conditioned to batting beyond the 20th over as Sunny Halai joined Nakul Jilka at the crease. The two pushed towards 200, before Nakul Jilka was caught at mid-off for 91 to end a fantastic captain's knock.

Losing both openers may have unsettled Edgware in other matches, however, Kabeer Soni and Sunny Halai looked fluent from the off and untroubled by the tiring West Herts bowlers and fielders. The two played beautiful shots all around the ground and put on 79 for the second wicket before Kabeer Soni was run out in pursuit of what would have been a first club 50. Edgware ended on 279-2 off their 40 overs which looked a commanding total truth be told on a increasingly flattening wicket.

In response, Edgware were relentless with their line and length and West Herts found it difficult to get momentum into the innings. Alpesh and Dean claimed a wicket a piece in the opening exchanges as West Herts fought their way through the first 10 overs to reach 42-2. However, the heat and smarts of the Edgware bowlers soon broke through the West Herts defences as Ananya Dixit claimed 3 middle order wickets, Jaimin Patel on debut claimed 2 and a comical run out reduced West Herts from 100-3 to 111-8.

A resilient 30 run partnership for the 10th wicket between West Herts' perseverant opener (who made 75) and their captain made Edgware wait for their cold beer before Rohan Garara secured the 30 points with an out swinger which caught the flaying bat of the West Herts opener to dismiss West Herts for 155.

The win meant 30 points for Edgware and 14 for West Herts and we look forward to our next fixture, a trip to Berkhamstead on the 14th!