Middlesex County League Division Two
Uxbridge 176 all out
Indian Gymkhana 177-7
Gymkhana won by three wickets
Nirav Jariwala reckons another couple of wins will be enough to complete Indian Gymkhana's remarkable rise to the top table of league cricket in Middlesex.
It was only five years ago that Gymkhana were promoted from the Middlesex Championship to the Middlesex County League, under the guidance of former skipper Jariwala, and three years of struggling to survive in Division Three followed.
It looked like more of the same last season until a remarkable turnaround saw them turn a relegation battle into a successful promotion campaign, meaning they would be playing the 2014 season in Division Two.
They have not rested on their laurels either, leading the Division Two table for much of the season – a lead which now stands at 19 points following Saturday's three-wicket win over promotion rivals Uxbridge.
Jariwala, who has since handed over the captaincy to Rakesh Khade, said: “We don't want to get complacent or over confident as we still have five games left, but two or three more results should be enough.
“Apart from a couple of new guys, including overseas star Punnet Mehra, we're pretty much the same side that came through the Middlesex Championship, so we're like a family and play as one.
“Rakesh has also instilled a positive mindset. At one point on Saturday we were looking to hold out for the winning draw, but the way he batted meant we took all the points instead.”
Mehra took 6-45 in just 13.2 overs to help bowl Uxbridge out for 176 and also contributed 44 in Gymkhana's reply, but Khade was the mainstay of the innings, notching an unbeaten half century (50) to see his side home.
Another team chasing promotion are Chiswick & Latymer in Thames Valley League Division 2b, who hammered Bagshot by 178 runs on Saturday, thanks to a century (115) from Rohit Jhanjharia and 6-42 from Vikas Tokas.
In Division 2a, a 96-run win over Finchampstead seconds, thanks to saw Mrunel Swawnt's century (109) and 5-39 from Raza Bukhari, saw British Airways move clear of the drop zone.
