BackSun 26 Jul 2026
Forest Green CC
Sunday 1st XI
14:00
Forest Green Triumph in Run Fest as Munaff’s Hundred Shines for Newdigate
Monjur Elahi
Sunday XI, 26 July 2026
26th July 2026 Sunday offered a rare cricketing day for Newdigate Cricket Club when numbers allowed two teams to be formed, two friendly fixtures were available too. Sunday 1st XI was set to visit Forest Green CC, while Sunday 2nd XI hosted Abinger CC at Home.
The hosts began cautiously. Ahsan Hussain worked hard for his 12 from 18 before falling to a sharp caught‑and‑bowled from Shahariar Sami. Forest Green needed someone to break the early tension, and Gagan Khaiva obliged with a busy, purposeful 53 off 45 balls, keeping the innings moving without ever letting Newdigate settle.
Salman Ahmed added a steady 26 from 35, but the real transformation came when Bilal Khawaja arrived. His 92 from 60 balls was a whirlwind — high tempo, relentless running, and constant pressure on the field. It was an innings that completely reshaped the match. The moment of the innings came when Rufus James pulled off a superb catch at short cover to end Bilal’s assault, giving Monjur Elahi a deserved wicket.
From that point, Newdigate began taking wickets regularly. Elahi’s spell of 2 for 33 was outstanding, choking the run flow and contributing to two crucial run‑outs. Safwan Ahmed was electric in the field, taking a high catch and producing a direct‑hit run‑out from the boundary.
Even so, Forest Green’s lower order chipped in just enough to push the total to a formidable 271 all out in the 40th over.
Harvey Carrington was the standout bowler for Newdigate, delivering 8 overs, 1 maiden, 49 runs, and 4 wickets. He broke partnerships at vital moments, removing both set and new batters, and prevented Forest Green from pushing towards 300.
Elahi’s control and Safwan’s fielding brilliance ensured Newdigate stayed competitive, but the damage from Bilal’s innings had already created a mountain to climb.
The reply began disastrously. Two wickets fell with only seven runs on the board, leaving Newdigate in early trouble. Simon Carrington steadied things with 22 off 25, and Redwan Ahmed added a composed 26 from 35, but neither could convert their starts. Forest Green’s bowlers kept chipping away — Irfan Ullah claiming three wickets and Aneel Khan bowling with superb control.
Then the match changed shape again. At 7 for 2, Hussain Mohammed Ershath Abdul Munaff walked in and produced one of the finest Sunday‑XI innings of the season. His 101 from 90 balls*, featuring 12 fours and 4 sixes, was a masterclass in controlled aggression. He absorbed pressure early, then expanded beautifully as the innings progressed. But he lacked support. Wickets fell cheaply around him, and partnerships never developed long enough to threaten Forest Green’s total.
Despite Munaff’s brilliance, Newdigate closed on 222 for 8, falling 49 runs short.
Forest Green’s standout bowler was Aneel Khan, whose figures of 4 for 17 from 7 overs were exceptional — disciplined, probing, and decisive. The early damage, however, came from Irfan Ullah, who finished with 3 for 30 from 8 overs, breaking the top order and setting the tone.
This was a run‑fest, nearly 500 runs scored across 80 overs, packed with momentum swings and standout performances. Ultimately, the match was defined by one truly exceptional innings — Munaff’s unbeaten hundred — but Forest Green’s depth, discipline, and Bilal’s tornado 92 ensured they emerged deserved winners.
The hosts began cautiously. Ahsan Hussain worked hard for his 12 from 18 before falling to a sharp caught‑and‑bowled from Shahariar Sami. Forest Green needed someone to break the early tension, and Gagan Khaiva obliged with a busy, purposeful 53 off 45 balls, keeping the innings moving without ever letting Newdigate settle.
Salman Ahmed added a steady 26 from 35, but the real transformation came when Bilal Khawaja arrived. His 92 from 60 balls was a whirlwind — high tempo, relentless running, and constant pressure on the field. It was an innings that completely reshaped the match. The moment of the innings came when Rufus James pulled off a superb catch at short cover to end Bilal’s assault, giving Monjur Elahi a deserved wicket.
From that point, Newdigate began taking wickets regularly. Elahi’s spell of 2 for 33 was outstanding, choking the run flow and contributing to two crucial run‑outs. Safwan Ahmed was electric in the field, taking a high catch and producing a direct‑hit run‑out from the boundary.
Even so, Forest Green’s lower order chipped in just enough to push the total to a formidable 271 all out in the 40th over.
Harvey Carrington was the standout bowler for Newdigate, delivering 8 overs, 1 maiden, 49 runs, and 4 wickets. He broke partnerships at vital moments, removing both set and new batters, and prevented Forest Green from pushing towards 300.
Elahi’s control and Safwan’s fielding brilliance ensured Newdigate stayed competitive, but the damage from Bilal’s innings had already created a mountain to climb.
The reply began disastrously. Two wickets fell with only seven runs on the board, leaving Newdigate in early trouble. Simon Carrington steadied things with 22 off 25, and Redwan Ahmed added a composed 26 from 35, but neither could convert their starts. Forest Green’s bowlers kept chipping away — Irfan Ullah claiming three wickets and Aneel Khan bowling with superb control.
Then the match changed shape again. At 7 for 2, Hussain Mohammed Ershath Abdul Munaff walked in and produced one of the finest Sunday‑XI innings of the season. His 101 from 90 balls*, featuring 12 fours and 4 sixes, was a masterclass in controlled aggression. He absorbed pressure early, then expanded beautifully as the innings progressed. But he lacked support. Wickets fell cheaply around him, and partnerships never developed long enough to threaten Forest Green’s total.
Despite Munaff’s brilliance, Newdigate closed on 222 for 8, falling 49 runs short.
Forest Green’s standout bowler was Aneel Khan, whose figures of 4 for 17 from 7 overs were exceptional — disciplined, probing, and decisive. The early damage, however, came from Irfan Ullah, who finished with 3 for 30 from 8 overs, breaking the top order and setting the tone.
This was a run‑fest, nearly 500 runs scored across 80 overs, packed with momentum swings and standout performances. Ultimately, the match was defined by one truly exceptional innings — Munaff’s unbeaten hundred — but Forest Green’s depth, discipline, and Bilal’s tornado 92 ensured they emerged deserved winners.
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