I will start the report, unusually, with the 5s – who gained promotion on Saturday with a win against Actonians. We made 178-6 (Pranay Jhunjhunwala making 53) and we bowled them out for 132, with yet another 5-wicket haul for Gaurav Jyothi. This secures us second place and promotion from Division 6. Huge congratulations to all the players – and their illustrious skipper, Dave ‘Mad Dog’ Philips, who as well as leading the ship has also taken 20 league wickets at an average of 5.00.

Meanwhile the 1s missed their chance to secure promotion, losing to bogey team Friends United. We made a decent 176-9 (Jamie Price 55) but they got them comfortably. This still leaves us in second, and with our destiny in our own hands: a win next week at South Hampstead will see us go up.

The 2s also lost, to South Hampstead. We made 191-8 but they got them – also for 8, so it was tight. We are 5th, with an outside chance of finishing 3rd.

The 3s remain in the promotion mix, but will need to win and then depend on other results. We saw off league-leaders Harrow, bowling them out for 95 and chasing comfortably for 2, Zach Fry with 41*. We are 3rd, 1 point behind Harrow, but there are many possible permutations next week. We need to beat Acton, and rely on either Richmond or Harrow losing.

The 4s also won comfortably, bowling out Harrow St Mary for 91 and getting it for 3 down. We are 4th, and have a chance of finishing 3rd. The 6s lost to a decent Barnes 4 team.

On Sunday the away team lost to Brentham – but there was 51* for junior Constantine Nur Shah. They chased down our 178 for the loss of 4. At HQ we beat Incogniti in what is always a glamourous fixture. We made 230 (50 for Anurag Zende) and they were chasing comfortably at 180-3 – but we bowled them out to win!

So everything to play for next weekend in the final round of league fixtures – please get your availabilities in and let’s put out the strongest possible XIs. Let’s hope the 1s and 3s can join the 5s in celebrating promotion.

One person who won’t be playing is Greg Swaby – as he’s getting married. Everyone at the club sends best wishes to the happy couple and many years of married bliss and Saturday cricket passes.

Thanks
Bernard