BackSun 17 May 2026 · Div 2
Sunday 1st XIOttershaw CC - Sunday 1st XI
163/8
183
Ali and Kehl steal a draw for Newdigate at the Village Cricket League match
Monjur Elahi18 May - 23:22
Sunday XI, Mohammad Ali, Ian Kehl
Newdigate CC Sunday XI hosted Ottershaw CC Sunday 1st XI at North Holmwood Sports Centre on 17th May 2026. The teams met with each other for the very first time on a Village Cricket League Match.
Ottershaw won the toss and decided to bat first on a 85 overs max declaration match. They started steady, despite some well-disciplined bowling from Safwan Ahmed and Steve Edwards. The opening pair delivered a 45 runs partnership. Vishnunath Gopinath (21) was the first wicket to fall on the 12th over and Sreemon Pillai took the charge building a 37 runs partnership in the second wicket. Sreemon Pillai’s aggressive 102 from just 87 balls threatened to take the game away early on. Pillai struck 13 fours and four sixes in a dominant innings that formed the backbone of Ottershaw’s 183 all out from 34.4 overs.
Despite the century, Newdigate’s bowlers kept chipping away. Shahariar Sami was outstanding through the middle overs, claiming 3-30, while Mohammad Ali’s marathon spell brought 4-56 and crucial late wickets. Monjur Elahi also impressed with 3-32 as Ottershaw collapsed from a strong position to lose all ten wickets. By folding up within 35 overs, Ottershaw also handed a strategic advantage over to Newdigate who has a target of 184 off 50 overs.
In reply, Newdigate endured a difficult start as both openers fell early with only two runs on the board. David Callcut steadied things with a composed 27 before Redwan Ahmed injected momentum into the chase, striking 46 from 53 balls including four boundaries and a six. Newdigate lost the momentum when the score was 108 from 27th overs, with 4 quick wickets after Redwan Departed. Newdigate needed just 76 runs from 23 overs. Ottershaw could see an easy win, Newdigate needed some extra-ordinary efforts to secure either a draw or a win, cloud covered sky and fading day-light also added to the worry.
Mohammad Ali and Ian Kehl came to the rescue. Ali anchored the innings superbly with occasional aggression, carrying his bat for an unbeaten 58 from 68 deliveries (6 boundaries and 2 sixes). His calm knock kept Newdigate in contention deep into the afternoon while Kehl (7 off 15 balls) gave him the support needed. The unbeaten batters took Newdigate innings to 45th over at 8:25 pm, still needing 21 runs for a win from 5 overs – a result was possible, players and spectators were up for the cliff-hanger to an exciting finish. The twilight faded and the captains had to make the sensible decision to call it a draw and shook hands.
Ottershaw’s bowlers shared the workload effectively, with Rajan Sappal taking 3-32 and Anuj Puri striking twice early to put Newdigate under pressure.
At the close, Newdigate finished on 163-8 from their 45 overs, 20 runs short of the target, with both sides ultimately settling for a draw after an entertaining contest.
Ottershaw won the toss and decided to bat first on a 85 overs max declaration match. They started steady, despite some well-disciplined bowling from Safwan Ahmed and Steve Edwards. The opening pair delivered a 45 runs partnership. Vishnunath Gopinath (21) was the first wicket to fall on the 12th over and Sreemon Pillai took the charge building a 37 runs partnership in the second wicket. Sreemon Pillai’s aggressive 102 from just 87 balls threatened to take the game away early on. Pillai struck 13 fours and four sixes in a dominant innings that formed the backbone of Ottershaw’s 183 all out from 34.4 overs.
Despite the century, Newdigate’s bowlers kept chipping away. Shahariar Sami was outstanding through the middle overs, claiming 3-30, while Mohammad Ali’s marathon spell brought 4-56 and crucial late wickets. Monjur Elahi also impressed with 3-32 as Ottershaw collapsed from a strong position to lose all ten wickets. By folding up within 35 overs, Ottershaw also handed a strategic advantage over to Newdigate who has a target of 184 off 50 overs.
In reply, Newdigate endured a difficult start as both openers fell early with only two runs on the board. David Callcut steadied things with a composed 27 before Redwan Ahmed injected momentum into the chase, striking 46 from 53 balls including four boundaries and a six. Newdigate lost the momentum when the score was 108 from 27th overs, with 4 quick wickets after Redwan Departed. Newdigate needed just 76 runs from 23 overs. Ottershaw could see an easy win, Newdigate needed some extra-ordinary efforts to secure either a draw or a win, cloud covered sky and fading day-light also added to the worry.
Mohammad Ali and Ian Kehl came to the rescue. Ali anchored the innings superbly with occasional aggression, carrying his bat for an unbeaten 58 from 68 deliveries (6 boundaries and 2 sixes). His calm knock kept Newdigate in contention deep into the afternoon while Kehl (7 off 15 balls) gave him the support needed. The unbeaten batters took Newdigate innings to 45th over at 8:25 pm, still needing 21 runs for a win from 5 overs – a result was possible, players and spectators were up for the cliff-hanger to an exciting finish. The twilight faded and the captains had to make the sensible decision to call it a draw and shook hands.
Ottershaw’s bowlers shared the workload effectively, with Rajan Sappal taking 3-32 and Anuj Puri striking twice early to put Newdigate under pressure.
At the close, Newdigate finished on 163-8 from their 45 overs, 20 runs short of the target, with both sides ultimately settling for a draw after an entertaining contest.
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