HERTS AND ESSEX CRICKET LEAGUE

Division One 

Ilford Catholic bowled well to defeat Farnham in a rain-affected game on Saturday to move into third in the table.

Catholic batted first and got off to a solid start, with Ryan Naylor and Ed Tooth adding 63 for the first wicket.

Naylor (28) departed first and Abbas Saleem (4) followed soon after when he was caught at mid off but Vince Mulholland started well and moved the score past the 100 mark.

After a long break for rain, the match was reduced to 31 overs per side and Tooth (45) was trapped leg before wicket once play had resumed.

However, Mulholland (41 not out) and Sule Saleem (6 not out) hit a crucial 37 runs in just four overs after the break to give Catholic a total of 138 to defend.

In reply, John Rogers (three for 23) and Mulholland (three for 21) made early inroads into the Farnham line-up.

With skipper Nick Prowse at the crease Farnham still had a chance, however great catches in the deep from Abdul Wahab and Rogers turned the game and late spells from Wahab (none for 19) and Nomi Qureshi (one for 23) restricted Farnham to leave them 36 runs short of the required total.

Catholic play Epping Foresters this weekend.

Division Five

Ilford Catholic Seconds beat Thundridge by five wickets.

Catholic bowled first and opening bowlers Anujan Thiru (one for 12) and Mukhtiar Singh (none for 29) contained Thundridge. But after 19 overs, rain stopped play and the game was reduced to 30 overs per side.

Ravi Ramanuja bowled well to take three for 34 as Thundridge finished on 135 for five.

In reply, Catholic lost early wickets before Martin Riches joined Annanth Kumar. With Kumar back to his belligerent best, they put on 75 in 11 overs before Riches was caught and bowled for 21.

Kumar carried on the chase and made a magnificent 77, including 12 fours and three sixes, before he fell with the score on 114 in the 21st over.

Nigel Costin (14 not out) and Thiru (two not out) then eased Catholic to victory in 22 overs to make it seven wins from seven.

Friendly

Ilford Catholic Thirds showed great resolve to beat Wildwood Wanderers by seven wickets in a game restricted to 35 overs per side due to the weather.

Wanderers’ openers got off to a flying start, scoring 38 in the first six overs, but Fred Fernando made the crucial breakthrough thanks to a smart catch by Wesle Benjamin at short cover.

Louis Morgan then picked up a wicket with a knick behind to wicketkeeper Mo Zaman, while Ashok Selveratnam picked up the next two.

A run out and two more wickets apiece from Saha and Selveratnam had Wanderers in trouble and with two quick wickets from Neil Patel, they capitulated to 78 all out in 22 overs.

In reply, Ricki Saha (five) and Ajay Patel (four) saw off the opening bowlers before Saha cut a wide ball to be caught at point. Patel dug deep in a dogged stand lasting ten overs before being bowled.

Louis Morgan added a valuable 14 runs before Benjamin took control of the contest with an explosive 36 not out that took the game away from the opposition.