BackSun 02 Aug 2026 · Div 2
Sunday 1st XIWestfield Saints CC, Surrey - Surrey VCL XI
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239/8
Callcut & Elahi Shine, but Saints Steal a 1‑Wicket Thriller
Monjur Elahi
Monjur Elahi, David Callcut
Newdigate CC Sunday XI hosted Westfield Saints CC on 2nd August 26 on a 40 overs Village Cricket League, Division 2 match at Newdigate Cricket Ground. It was a bright sunny day indicating a hot afternoon and the Saints’ decision to field first, winning the toss, was a surprising one!
And as the story goes – Newdigate lost early wicket… But defying the typical story-line, Callcut-Elahi scripted one of the most beautifully constructed Sunday XI innings of the season for Newdigate CC — an ideal template for a batting side which showed patience, placement, and partnership building, amassing a formidable total.
Callcut played an innings of old school craftsmanship. He began cautiously, absorbing pressure and refusing to chase balls outside his zones. Once settled, he unfurled a stream of crisp drives and late cuts, threading gaps with surgeon like precision. He opened the batting and carried his bat through, remaining not out, scoring 109 runs off 132 balls with 19 fours.
Skipper Monjur Elahi walked in as Newdigate’s first wicket fell for 12 on the 5th over, the Westfield Saints were making the ball talk then, swinging both ways and extracting bounce. Elahi absorbed the initial pressure by presenting a dead face of the bat, smothering the spin and bounce, scoring only 6 off the 26 balls. Then, as the shine faded and the bite disappeared, he blossomed. Drives through off and on, cuts, pulls, glances — all arrived in a flurry. His acceleration was superb, and his 82 came at better than a run a ball.
Together, Callcut and Elahi built a 211‑run partnership, the backbone of the innings and one of Newdigate’s finest Sunday‑XI stands in recent memory. With the platform set, Newdigate closed on 237 for 2 off 40 overs.
Bowling was not a great reading for the Saints, as one can tell. Shoukath Mohammed grabbed two wickets from his 9 overs and that all the wickets the team claimed.
Newdigate dropped a catch on the very first ball of the match as the visitors started their innings. Next 17 overs were a session of frenzy bat swings, boundary hitting and catch dropping. 6, some claims 7 catches were dropped during this period. Arun Kumar (44 off 56 balls with 6 boundaries) and Virbhadeswar Singh (73 off 54 balls with 14 boundaries) cashed as the Saints marched on what seemed like an easy target.
On the 3rd bowling pair change, Hamish Muir and Khatib Hashim came to the reign the racing Saints. 3 wickets fell in over 17, 18 and 19 to peg the Saints back. However, the damage was done by the Saints’ openers and the rest of the batters’ responsibility was to keep the scoreboard ticking, which was lead well by Kapil Sangwan (21) and Brian Francis (35). Mohammad Ali and George Daniels’ return spell saw yet another twist to reduce the visitors to their last wicket needing 7 runs off 3 overs. But Saints skipper Parin Gada (32)* held his nerve. Calm, composed, and clinical, he guided his side through the final stretch, eventually striking the winning boundary to seal a dramatic 1‑wicket victory.
The standout performer with the ball was undoubtedly 13‑year‑old Hamish Muir, who delivered a spell of remarkable maturity and control, claiming 2 wickets from his 5 overs giving away only 13 runs. Hamish bowled with pace, discipline, and a wonderful command of line and length. His spell announced his arrival in the cricketing arena — and hinted that he may be hanging around for quite a while!
And as the story goes – Newdigate lost early wicket… But defying the typical story-line, Callcut-Elahi scripted one of the most beautifully constructed Sunday XI innings of the season for Newdigate CC — an ideal template for a batting side which showed patience, placement, and partnership building, amassing a formidable total.
Callcut played an innings of old school craftsmanship. He began cautiously, absorbing pressure and refusing to chase balls outside his zones. Once settled, he unfurled a stream of crisp drives and late cuts, threading gaps with surgeon like precision. He opened the batting and carried his bat through, remaining not out, scoring 109 runs off 132 balls with 19 fours.
Skipper Monjur Elahi walked in as Newdigate’s first wicket fell for 12 on the 5th over, the Westfield Saints were making the ball talk then, swinging both ways and extracting bounce. Elahi absorbed the initial pressure by presenting a dead face of the bat, smothering the spin and bounce, scoring only 6 off the 26 balls. Then, as the shine faded and the bite disappeared, he blossomed. Drives through off and on, cuts, pulls, glances — all arrived in a flurry. His acceleration was superb, and his 82 came at better than a run a ball.
Together, Callcut and Elahi built a 211‑run partnership, the backbone of the innings and one of Newdigate’s finest Sunday‑XI stands in recent memory. With the platform set, Newdigate closed on 237 for 2 off 40 overs.
Bowling was not a great reading for the Saints, as one can tell. Shoukath Mohammed grabbed two wickets from his 9 overs and that all the wickets the team claimed.
Newdigate dropped a catch on the very first ball of the match as the visitors started their innings. Next 17 overs were a session of frenzy bat swings, boundary hitting and catch dropping. 6, some claims 7 catches were dropped during this period. Arun Kumar (44 off 56 balls with 6 boundaries) and Virbhadeswar Singh (73 off 54 balls with 14 boundaries) cashed as the Saints marched on what seemed like an easy target.
On the 3rd bowling pair change, Hamish Muir and Khatib Hashim came to the reign the racing Saints. 3 wickets fell in over 17, 18 and 19 to peg the Saints back. However, the damage was done by the Saints’ openers and the rest of the batters’ responsibility was to keep the scoreboard ticking, which was lead well by Kapil Sangwan (21) and Brian Francis (35). Mohammad Ali and George Daniels’ return spell saw yet another twist to reduce the visitors to their last wicket needing 7 runs off 3 overs. But Saints skipper Parin Gada (32)* held his nerve. Calm, composed, and clinical, he guided his side through the final stretch, eventually striking the winning boundary to seal a dramatic 1‑wicket victory.
The standout performer with the ball was undoubtedly 13‑year‑old Hamish Muir, who delivered a spell of remarkable maturity and control, claiming 2 wickets from his 5 overs giving away only 13 runs. Hamish bowled with pace, discipline, and a wonderful command of line and length. His spell announced his arrival in the cricketing arena — and hinted that he may be hanging around for quite a while!
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