Newdigate CC Sunday XI hosted the prestigious annual fixture with BBC Bushmen CC Friendly XI at Newdigate ground on 18th August 2024 on a 40 overs match.
Among the other distinguished players, Michael Cockerell, British broadcaster and journalist, featured the BBC team.
The visitors were invited to bat first on agreement between the captains and they had a great start, despite losing and early wicket at 27. The second wicket partnership of 121 shared between Kishan Changlani (91, with 17 boundaries and 1 six) and James Bonser laid a very strong platform for BBC. Naman Paropkari (50 with 10 boundaries) played a destroyer’s role while ably supported by James Bonser (67 with 9 boundaries) to form a 96 runs partnership for the 3rd wicket. A few late wickets from 37th over halted the racing run-train of BBC Bushmen who piled up a massive total of 258 runs off 40 overs losing 6 wickets.
Toby Ball (50/3 off 6 overs) was expensive but the most successful bowler for Newdigate who came back strong on his return spell. Wickets a piece was shared between Monjur Elahi, Mark Treliving and Abdul Sufan. Whilst a few Newdigate fielders, who dropped 5 easy catches, will be regretting moments, Safwan Ahmed, Jon Pritchard and Abdul Sufan will be replaying in their mind, the stunning catches they grabbed!
In response, Newdigate lost two wickets at the very first over with one run on board – not a start the hosts were looking for when chasing a mammoth total. The 3rd wicket went down on the 2nd over and to make things worse, the 4th wicket fell when the score was 21 off 4 overs. A little resistance was witnessed and then the 8th over saw a double strike from BBC reduced Newdigate down to 40/6. Skipper Monjur Elahi initiated the damage limitation work, supported by Redwan Ahmed (30, with 5 boundaries) who took the team past 100 runs at drinks. Elahi-Ahmed 7th wicket partnership yielded 67 runs off 13 overs. Two quick wickets fell soon after drinks and Elahi set-up another partnership of 73 runs on the 9th wicket to take Newdigate to 180/9 on the 38th over. Elahi played patiently dispatching bad balls to score 72 runs with 11 boundaries. Mark Treliving remained on unbeaten 23 as Elahi departed on 38th over and Newdigate’s innings folded up on 180.
BBC Bushmen secured a big win of 78 runs. Chris Ancil ripped through Newdigate’s top order by taking 4 wickets from his 7 over conceding only 21 runs. Tom Whyte 11/2 off 8 overs checked the run flows for Newdigate while Akash Rajput (27/2 off 7 overs) chipped in nicely. Naman Paropkari took the important wicket of Monjur Elahi and wrapped the innings by taking the last wicket.
Both the team played to the great spirit of Sunday Cricket and enjoyed every moment of the sunny summer Sunday.