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Played at Old Finchleians Memorial Ground
Report by Steve Hamilton

This was another new fixture this season for the Old Fallopians, played against North London Infernos on a jagged lopsided ground with big boundaries and uncut grass - it definitely wasn't going to be a 225/250 game!

The Infernos won the toss and decided to put us in to bat. We looked solid at 71 for 1 off 15 overs. However, our run rate never really got going and always remained around 5.5 an over.

Vishnu and Gaurav both continued their early season form with style and the calm temperament needed to set the key early platform at the start of a innings, scoring 28 and 36 respectively.

We had a mini-collapse and found ourselves on 101 for 4 after 20 overs. Kafh and Azaz put on 46 and it was only Kafh who was finding the boundary with ease, with two massive sixes and three fours for a quick fire 29 to help us reach a competitive total of 182 off 35 overs.

Umair and Syed opened the bowling for us with control and a precise accuracy forcing the Inferno openers to struggle early on, scraping only 26 from the first nine overs.

Due to unforeseen circumstances we slipped to 10 men after 12 overs. With a replacement wicket keeper and more gaps in the field, runs become much easier for the opposition.

Naveen came on with his unpredictable pace and clean bowled their opening batsman (John C) for 17 and was well supported by Asad who bowled a superb spell of seven overs with figures of 2-16. He first took the wicket of Muhammad for 10, who smashed the ball to mid off almost taking Suhaib's head off and taking a spectacular catch with his bucket hands in front of his face!

At drinks the match was in the balance with the Infernos on 91 for 2 from 18 overs.

Despite Asad taking out key Inferno batsman Rory for 53, plum LBW from a full-ball yorker, the match was turning in the opposition's favour. With 13 overs to go, the Infernos only needed 61 or 4.6 an over, and had wickets in hand.

Umair came back on and gave us hope by taking two quick wickets. First on the block was Ben Howard, dismissed for 23 after smashing the ball into the hands of Naveen, scooping up the ball in a breathtaking catch low to the ground at mid off. Then Skekel fell, trapped by Umair leg before for a duck. Umair ended his seven-over masterclass of swing bowling with figures of 2-17.

Gaurav got lucky and bowled a full toss that hit the bails and got the wicket of (Mark) for 0 for a golden duck.

We thought long and hard to made it a close encounter but in the end the Infernos were always slightly ahead of the game and scrambled home with eight balls to spare.

It was a well fought battle between two equally matched teams.

A return fixture maybe on the cards for next season?

Old Fallopians on the boundary: (L-R) Naveen Kumar, Suhaib Aslam, Gaurav Prabhu, Umair Shahzad, Asad Mushtaq

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