MIDDLESEX COUNTY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
Teddington 273-9
Stanmore 207-7
Losing draw for Stanmore
Backs to the wall efforts from Umesh Valjee (48), Jake Whiteaker (24), Talha Azam (78) and a grinding four not out off 40 balls from skipper Grant Reingold ensured Stanmore had at least something to show from their trip to south-west London.
This gritty effort was perhaps Reingold’s way of paying back his team after winning the toss and sending them out to pasture in the noon sun.
Abishek Kulkarni (3-53) took the new ball and caused problems first up, reducing Teddington to 47-3, but importantly could not get the early nut of the hosts’ other opening batsman James Keightley.
Keightley (118) was eventually dismissed by Nicholas Goh (3-85), but the damage was already done at the fall of wicket as it was 262-7.
Teddington eventually batted out their 61 overs, setting Stanmore a daunting target of 274 to win the match.
The target was never really within threat, especially when Steve Eskinazi fell second over for a duck.
With the target unrealistic, the message got out from Reingold to bat time, and to their credit the Stanmore batsmen duly obliged with some patient knocks.
Valjee’s 48 came from 116 balls as he took the shine off the new ball. He managed to put on 42 for the third wicket with Whiteaker.
The number four eventually fell after scoring his 24 from 75 balls.
In true wicketkeeping fashion, Azam did not heed the captain’s message as he crashed the ball to all corners of Teddington. His 78 came from just 64 balls as he was single-handedly eyeing up the ridiculously lofty target.
The scoring rate was almost brought to a complete halt as Reingold went out to greet his wicketkeeper at the crease.
He only notched four runs off 40 balls but he saw his side home for a share of the spoils.
Elsewhere, Harrow managed a winning draw against Southgate in Division Two and Kenton beat Enfield by two wickets in Division Three.
Wembley had to settle for a winning draw in the same division after failing to gun down a stubborn Acton side who clung on to their final wicket.
