There was an impressive seven-wicket victory for Shepherds Bush Cricket Club 1st Xl at the weekend as the team hosted Hampstead at Bromyard Avenue.
Hampstead won the toss and opted to bat first, achieving a total of 229, with opener Rafay Ahmed scoring 53, Amogh Karpe 43 and Damien Burrage 40. The wickets were shared between six Bush bowlers.
Taking the crease, Bush made a rocky start with Idris Otto-Mian out for 3 and Ikjot Thind for 11 before the arrival of Nick Appleton and Fin Trenouth.
Appleton finished on 77 not out, with his tally including three sixes, while Trenouth, Bush's wicket keeper, hit 84 before being caught by Tim McSweeney. Marcus Howard's 35 not out helped boost Bush's score to 233-3 off 37 overs.
The Bush 2nd Xl lost to Hampstead's 2nds by seven wickets, although a much-needed first win of the league season is expected in the coming days once the team achieves some stability.
Bush 3rds were at home to Barnes at Gunnersbury Park last weekend. Barnes put Bush in to bat, with a solid team performance seeing them reach 237. Theo Payne top-scored with 56 – coincidentally Bush's winning margin in the match. Barnes were bowled out for 181, with Gabe Woodford being the pick of the bowlers with 4-63.
The 4th XI were home to Old Isleworthians, also in Gunnersbury Park. Bush were put in to bat, and Sam Green-Armytage gave them a good start with 84, supported by Abdullah Khan with a quickfire 64 not out. Tight bowling and top fielding saw Isleworthians bowled out for 229, achieving a 23-run win for Bush.
After the fourth round of the Middlesex County Cricket League, three of Shepherds Bush's five teams top their respective divisions with the 1st Xl joint top with North Middlesex, the 3rds top and the 4ths joint top with Harrow Town.
The 1st XI were in action defending both their Middlesex cups this week, but lost to Acton in the T20 cup, and Teddington in the Middlesex Cup.
On Sunday the women played a friendly match against local rivals Actonians. It proved a great day, with Bush emerging victorious by 17 runs, showing the depth of the club's women's squad this year.
Also on Sunday the club's Sunday Xl had an exciting match at Eastcote CC. Batting first, they put on 284. Yashavi Mohan top-scored with 80, supported by Harjeevan Gill with 59, while Abdulah Khan followed up his 64 not out on Saturday with 60 not out. Wickets were shared, but Khan achieved the first hat-trick of the season to finish 3-59. Eastcote could only make 281-7, a tight finish giving Bush victory by three runs.
This Saturday (7 June) Bush 1st Xl are away to Harrow St Mary's at noon, while the 2nds take on Brondesbury at 12.30pm at Bromyard Avenue, looking to achieve a win.
On Sunday the women's team play in the Harrow Smash festival at Harrow CC, while the Sunday Xl have a home friendly fixture against JMC CC starting at 1.30pm.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
