Poor batting and fielding display results in Edgware's first loss of the season

It was a tough day at the office for Edgware Cricket Club on Saturday 30th April as they took on Arkley CC (a last min replacement for Mill Hill Village) at the picturesque, Royal Veterinary College in Hatfield.

Electing to bat first, Edgware lacked composure and patience in what would become a trend for the innings, as three early wickets fell (all ducks) to leave the boys in blue on 24-3. Seemingly oblivious to the carnage around him, Nakul Jilka looked fluent and picked the gaps as he and Sajith Sriwickramasekaran started the recovery. Edgware were 51-3 when Sajith Sriwickramasekaran held out at deep fine leg for an entertaining 14 off 13 balls and was swiftly followed by Rahul Kothari who was caught at mid-off for a first ball duck (52-5).

Nakul Jilka and Alpesh Gorsia tussled their way to 81-5 to bring some respectability to the Edgware innings and surpass our lowest ever score, however, it would be Nakul to fall next as the vice-captain was caught and bowled for a well battled 49. The saying often goes, 1 brings 2. Unfortunately for Edgware, 1 brought 4 as the boys in blue crashed to 88-9, flustered by the part-time spin Arkley had served up at the tail-end. A grinding last-wicket stand between Ananya Dixit and Tushyam Sonecha carried Edgware to the brink of drinks until Tushyam Sonecha was bowled by Kamal Shah to close the innings on 103 all out off 20 overs.

Whilst it should be noted that the wicket certainly had a few tricks up it's sleeve and the outfield was long and slow, Edgware's innings was dreadfully sub-par. Despite this, Edgware's opening bowlers of Rahul Kothari and Alpesh Gorsia were magnificent and starved the Arkley openers of any width in the early exchanges. So exceptional was the opening spell, that Arkley collapsed to 26-4 off 12 overs and Edgware were well within the contest.

Alpesh takes his second wicket of the afternoon to remove Patel

Unfortunately though for Edgware, Captain Ben Candy looked composed and started to take the game away from the away side. Both he and James Franklin (no, not the former New Zealand all-rounder) slowly chipped away at Edgware's total and in time, Edgware's belief. Despite the fall of James Franklin for 10, caught smartly by Sajith Sriwickramasekaran at cover off the bowling of Dean Veerapen, the end was nigh. Arkley knocked off the remaining runs with little discomfort and secured a convincing 4-wicket win.

No doubt, Edgware will be pleased that a game like this happened in April instead of May during the league season. Batting and fielding must still be an area of focus for the squad and they'll look to put things right against West Herts and Hemel Hempstead next weekend. Good luck lads!

Stats

There were six (6) ducks in Edgware's innings. This is the most ever in a single innings. The previous record was four (4) against St Anne's All Stars (2017) and Chingford (2021).

Highlights (if you dare)