OWCC Match Reports 21st June 2025

cricket newsletter  •  Posted 23rd June 2025

Harvel 232 for 8 Old Wilsonians 200

On the hottest day of the year Old Wilsonians did well to restrict Harvel to 232 for 8. Many of the latter's batsmen, notably Izaz Tahir (35), Delrick Adikari (23) and Alastair Saunders (35) were dismissed when they threatened to make big scores and, in the end, they had to rely on Adam Wharton (54) and Chris Wharton (21 n,o) to ensure that they used all of their 50 overs, with Elliot Bettridge, 3 for 38, Joe Jukes, 2 for 22 and David Pilgrim, 2 for 24 being on-song for the OWs who knew that, if they batted well, then victory would be theirs.
They started solidly enough but then lost three wickets in eight balls and when a further two wickets fell they had slumped to 59 for 5 in the 18th over. However, Andrew Pomering (54) and Harry Williams (24) then put on 50 for the sixth wicket and when Shehan Sivaranjan (40) joined Pomering they threatened to score the runs required.
However, this was not to be and they were dismissed for 200 from the last ball of the 44th over, Abdul Khan, 3 for 30, being the most successful of the Harvel bowlers.

Old Wilsonians 2nd Xl 123, Sidcup 2nd Xl 127 for 5

Defending a total of 123 is never going to be easy and so it proved, as Sidcup defeated Old Wilsonians by five wickets in less than 21 overs, but it could have been easier for the hosts as they had the visitors 43 for 5, Luke Bates, who finished with 4 for 34, inflicting most of the early damage.
However, Harley Tucker (29), Ollie Willis (15) and Stan Sherlock (14 n.o) prevented an even earlier finish and managed to extend the OW innings to 35.5 overs.
After the tea interval Colin Lewis (34), John Fogarty (27) and John Deighan (19) had little difficulty in acquiring the runs required for victory.

Old Wilsonians 3rd Xl 82 London Knights 83 for 5

London Knights were made to work hard for the 83 runs they required to beat Old Wilsonioans and, indeed, with their score at 44 for 4 you could argue that the game was evenly balanced, but a 5th wicket stand of 37 between Abdullah Zafar (20 n.o) and Kunal Singh (14) put an end to any nervousness as they secured a comfortable five wicket victory.
But it is to their bowlers they have to be grateful, as Sanjay KR Mansingh, 4 for 12, Rahul Singh, 2 for 4 and Husain Ahmed, 2 for 9 caused the OW batsmen all sorts of problems with only Max Ruskin and Jason James, both of whom scored 12, offering any sort of resistance

Old Wilsonians 4th Xl 149 for 6, Beckenham 6th Xl 151 for 5

After being 69 for 5 Old Wilsonians did well to recover to 149 for 6 from their 40 overs, thanks mainly to a fifth wicket stand of 54 between Howard Abbett (26) and Paul Matthews (26 n.o) but it was not enough to prevent them falling to a five wicket defeat to Beckenham.
The latter's reply started well, thanks mainly to opener Leonard Burns (35) and although they experienced a bit of a wobble at 119 for 5, the cool head of Eleanor Varnier-Moore (42 n,.o), enabled them to achieve a comfortable victory