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Played at Fairlop
Report by Steve Hamilton

The first week of September and things were finally beginning to click into gear. We were greeted at Fairlop with impeccable weather and majestic blue skies. The scene was set.

But playing against local rivals who we had never beaten on their home ground was going to be a challenge.

I won the toss and decided to bat, as the wicket did look a bit flat. We had a solid start, but then we lost our openers to the intimidating burly, bald headed, bearded pace man, known only as T. Ali.

However, their early success brought to the crease the powerful Junaid – a player who has become a different batsman this season and is now our leading run scorer by a mile! A man with a change in temperament, an inner calmness and playing according to the situation. Joined by Azaz Khalil, the pair put on 100-odd runs for the third wicket, Azaz being the dominant batsman, favouring the leg side for the majority of his runs and reaching his 50 in rapid time.

During their partnership there was an unfortunate incident when Junaid was attempting a quick single and collided with Parkonians captain Vijay. Only one person was going to come off worse, but fortunately we had Doctor Khalil on board to attend and help the semi-conscious patient back to feet after an anxious 10-15 minutes.

Now it was a one-man show from Junaid using brutality and class, demolishing the ball to all parts of the ground with booming on- and off-drives, savagely fierce cuts and pulls, and an exquisite straight six. It was a destruction of the opposition bowling which included 15 boundaries as Junaid reached 98 for the second time this season and was unlucky not to get his hundred!

At the halfway point we had accumulated 250 runs in 40 overs and were well in command of the proceedings!

Our opening bowlers Umair and Syed showed no mercy. Umair, our most economical bowler this season, removed both openers leg before with unplayable in-swingers. There was also was incident a few balls earlier when surprisingly I dropped a catch off Umair's bowling - I think the sun was in my eyes (!) - though I was told the sun was behind me (!!). But it didn't matter as the batsman was out the next over.

Bharath Reddy, back after a two-year absence, came on as first change bowler and completely annihilated the Parkonians batting order. He took a "fifer" (7-0-22-5) with a variety of slower balls, yorkers and a caught & bowled to firmly put the game out of sight for the home team.

I took a stunning wicket near the end after putting plenty of revolutions on a ball which pitched outside off and hitting the top of leg stump. I think even Harbhajan Singh would have been proud of it!

Azaz took the final wicket and we won the game comfortably by 97 runs!

Their captain has now fully recovered and, despite his close encounter with the human runs-machine, has invited us back for a rematch next season.

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