Report by Mark De Vrij, Captain, Sunday 2nd XI

Back at Home, Newdigate (156 all out 32.1 overs) beat Abinger (155 all out 35.0 overs) in a last ball thriller for the ages at the Brocus on Sunday.

With Abinger needing 4 runs for victory off the last over, Khatib Hashim kept his cool to concede only 2 runs off the final over to secure the win, aided by a spectacular piece of fielding by Felix Prakash stopping a near certain boundary. The last over was a microcosim of the Newdigate victory which was built on an incredible team performance in the field with every player giving their all, from Newdigate debutant Darwin Wong who was incredible in a close mid-wicket position for much of the match, stopping a large number of runs with his quick reflexes, Peter Snell who made an excellent series of athletic stops, Umar Hashim who was absolutely solid and unlucky to when he took an excellent catch which was then adjudged to be a no-ball, and Hesandu Hirudaya who epitomised the never say die attitude of the team to take a wonderful catch which did its best to escape his grasp before he plucked the ball safely on the 3rd attempt and that is to but name a few of the moments in this match where the team put themselves on the line to prevent that extra run or boundary which made all the difference at the final tally.

Earlier Jagadeesh Subbiah (73) anchored the Newdigate innings on a dry and tricky pitch against an excellent Abinger bowling attack with Amusha Senevirante getting some amazing turn off the deck in dry but initially overcast conditions. David Callcut provided an excellent opening anchor with a gutsy 28 and Felix also added a well crafted 14 during a tricky middle order stint. Special credit also to Umar Hashim who stepped up to the senior side from the under 13's and made his first senior runs. Every run was fought for with the Abinger bowlers giving little away and the Abinger keeper (M. Shaboodien) in excellent form effecting two stumpings including a lightning quick effort to end Jagadeesh's innings.
Defending a target of 156 in 35 overs, Newdigate started well, with Jagadeesh especially miserly giving away only 13 runs from his 7 overs and bagging 4 wickets, including opposition captain and danger man, Mark Houghton, for a golden duck. Dencil Anthony provided the perfect foil at the opposite end sharing the new ball, before Khatib delivered a master class of control and Felix started a devastating spell that saw him take 3 wickets and had Abinger at 42-4 and then 80-6. Umar Hashim had a solid 3 overs, bowling with a wonderful maturity that belies the fact he making his first step up to senior cricket while Ian Kehl, as always such a team stalwart, made sure that the middle overs were strangled before Hesandu Hirudaya got a well deserved wicket as a part of his 4 over spell, all which led to Abinger reaching the start of the last over on 153-9 needing 4 runs to win and the final over heroics of Khatib and Felix. Everywhere the bowlers were superbly backed up by the fielders, and David Callcut was, as he so often has been for both the Saturday 2's and the Sunday side, an absolute rock behind the stumps upon which we could depend. It was fitting that David, who had opened the Newdigate innings 6 hours previously, had the last act of the match on the last ball, whipping the bails off to claim the last wicket and seal the home team win.

In the end a thrilling match, a huge thanks to those who came down to watch and support, to our opposition who played a friendly match in excellent spirit that showed the best of cricket, and to Ayam Fatima for stepping in to make an excellent tea at short notice. Lastly to Monjur for somehow managing to pull off organising this second Sunday match to make sure everyone who was available this weekend got a game, and to David who did a massive shift behind the scenes to make the day run smoothly and ensuring everything got put away.