After a recent wobble, Shepherds Bush Cricket Club's 1st Xl got back on track with an important victory against Richmond in the Middlesex Cup quarter-final.
After winning the toss (itself a minor miracle for the team recently), Bush batted first and ran up a total of 156 all out. In reply, Richmond's 1st managed 141 before being bowled... a 15-run win.
Bush wicketkeeper Jonny Armitage was the pick of the batsman, tantalisingly stumped by his oppo Tanmay Thanawalla one run short of a half-century.
But there were also sound knocks by Macus Howard (28), opener Andrew Perry (19) and James Kidson (16).
Faced with the 156 target, Richmond began brightly at the Bromyard Avenue home of SBCC. Hugo Knowles scored 26 before being dismissed LBW by Kidson, while Thanawalla proved that wicketkeepers are more versatile than often credited by top-scoring with 39.
But Malakai New began to mop up the Richmond batters, taking four wickets for 33 runs, while bowler Idris Otto-Mian gained three for 34.
Mitch Crayn was the Bush captain for the match, achieving 14 runs after coming in as third batter before being bowled by Eric Botha.
Bush's next match is away to Finchley this Saturday, while the 2nd Xl are at home on the same day, hosting Highgate at Bromyard Avenue, starting at 12.30pm.
Then on Sunday Bush 1st Xl are away to Crouch End, starting at 1.30pm at Stanmore Common – as tough a fixture as anyone could wish for.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
