MIDDLESEX CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION THREE
Indian Gymkhana 113 all out
South Hampstead 101 all out
Indian Gymkhana won by 12 runs
SKIPPER Rakesh Khade hailed the efforts of veteran bowler Sumit Khullar, whose toils in the heat helped Indian Gymkhana to a third win of the season on Saturday.
Defeat looked on the cards when Gymkhana were bowled out for just 113 on a flat batting track at drop zone rivals South Hampstead.
But Khullar, who at one point just missed out on a hat-trick after reducing South Hampstead from 11-0 to 11-3 in a single over, returned figures of 5-47 to help dismiss the hosts for 101 and earn a 12-run victory.
Khade said: “Sumit took three wickets in one over, including two successive ones, and was on a hat-trick but unfortunately could not complete it.
“At the age of 41, he bowled 12 overs on a very hot day, and he told me he was struggling, but that if I rested him for a few overs he would come back in and finish the job, which he did.
“Sumit is also useful with the bat and would have added some more runs if he had not come in at last man.”
In the event, Bupinder Singh, with an unbeaten 46, was the only man to carry his bat for any length of time in what was a disastrous innings for Gymkhana.
Top three Chirag Patel, G Singh and Rayaan Hussain were all dismissed for ducks, and it was only Bupinder Singh’s efforts which saw them last 30.4 overs and build anything like a score.
Fortunately, Khullar, along with Puneet Mehra, who chipped in with 3-41, was on song to ensure South Hampstead did not reach their target.
Khade added: “We didn’t score a lot of what was a batting wicket, we were looking for 200-250. But even after we were out for 113, the boys thought ‘they have bowled us out cheaply, we can do the same to them’. There is more confidence in the side now.”
