HERTS AND ESSEX CRICKET LEAGUE

Division Five

Ilford Catholic lost to Epping Foresters by 11 runs in a closely-fought encounter on Saturday.

Epping batted first but Catholic bowlers Vince Mulholland (three for nine) and John Rogers (one for 16) dominated the first hour of play, reducing Foresters to 15 for four.

Mulholland picked up three for nine from a very economical nine overs including five maidens.

Foresters were 30 for four from 19 overs but Steve Ward (79) and Steve Poole (66) put on 123 for the fourth wicket and laid the foundation for a competitive total of 184 for six.

In reply, Ryan Naylor and Ed Tooth got Catholic off to a great start with a 59-run stand in the first ten overs but Tooth fell for 25, caught at point.

Catholic then lost brothers Abbas (8) and Sule Saleem (2) in quick succession, and when Naylor fell for 29, Epping were back into the game.

Runs from Abdul Wahab (13) and Vince Mulholland (14) helped Catholic towards 150 but some tight bowling from Mark Quant (one for 33) made it difficult to score.

With two overs left, Catholic needed 20 and despite efforts from Liam Mulholland (5) and Nomi Qureshi (13), Catholic fell 11 short of the required total.

Division Five

Ilford Catholic Seconds remain top of the table after a ten-wicket win over fourth-placed Hockerill Seconds.

Bowling first, Catholic openers Anujan Thiru (three for 43) and Mukhtiar Singh (two for 14) took two early wickets before Gowtham Rajasegaran (one for 10) chipped in to make it 30 for four after 15 overs.

Sarankan Skandamoorthy picked up two late wickets to skittle Hockerill for 106.

In reply, Catholic openers Annanth Kumar and Sandeep Barot made a good start, playing aggressively but with common sense.

Kumar and Barot finished the game in fine style in just over 13 overs with Barot (52 not out) smashing nine boundaries and Kumar (51 not out) blasting nine fours and a six to continue his excellent recent run.

The victory was Catholic’s eighth in a row.

Friendly

Ilford Catholic Thirds beat Cassowaries by 42 runs in a friendly.

Catholic captain Mo Zaman decided to bat first and openers Ricky Saha (48) and Ajay Patel (7) laid the foundations for the innings with a solid start. Patel fell early but Zaman stepped in to pick up the run rate with a superb innings of 66 which included two sixes and seven fours.

When Zaman was stumped, the scoring continued with quick-fire innings from Louis Morgan (16) and Ashok Selvaratnam (18) to leave his side on 174 for six.

In reply, bowlers Frederick Fernando (two for 13) and Louis Morgan (none for 17) dismissed the openers and quick wickets saw Cassowaries in trouble at 65 for four. A middle-order fightback was haulted by Ashok Selvaratnam (one for 25) and debutant Guru Vignesh (two for 27) before Karan Shah (two for 30) finished off the tail to secure the win.