Ton-derful Nish earns shock success for South Hampstead
NISH Patel's spectacular unbeaten century set up a shock win for South Hampstead as they knocked high-flying Winchmore Hill off top spot.
SH had looked done for when they lost their first nine wickets for a paltry 84 runs, with opener Alex Ranger (14) the only other batsman to reach double figures.
But Patel slammed 117 from just 60 balls to haul his side to a respectable total and Amit Chakrawarti (5-8) and James McMahon (3-24) then tore the visitors apart for just 79 to complete a stunning victory.
"I have played here for many years and that was one of the best knocks I have seen by a South Hampstead batsman, especially with the situation we were in," skipper Zia Sialvi said.
"To score 117 of our 165 runs and put on 81 for the final wicket was incredible. Nish played without any fear, attacked from ball one and, with luck on his side, he managed to reach a well deserved hundred.
"We will take a lot of confidence from this game and hope for another 10 points next week at Brentham, who have only managed to pick up two points from their last four games."
SH were put into bat on a green seaming wicket at Milverton Road and were soon in trouble, with Matt Cullen (7) the first to depart when caught by Danny Baker of Jack Jerrom (1-22)
Ranger was caught by Andy Varley off Jim Gatting (5-70), to leave them 22-2 and any hopes of a fightback appeared to be over when McMahon was trapped lbw for a duck by Gatting.
The same bowler had Paul Atherley caught for a duck for the addition of only two more runs and SH had clawed their way to 43 when Sialvi (4) was leg before to Jamie Thorpe (4-47).
Wickets continued to tumble until Patel stepped up to steady the ship, hitting a superb 117 not out and dominating a brilliant last-wicket stand of 81 with Kirk Drummond (3).
SH struck quickly in reply, with Sialvi catching opener Tom Ludlam (5) off McMahon, who then removed Morgan Prior for a duck to leave Winchmore Hill on 8-2.
Drummond (1-14) tightened the screw when he had Albert Kerry caught by Atherley for a duck before Chakrawarti decimated the middle order, with top-scorer Varley (17) faring best of his five victims.
Winchmore Hill never looked likely to recover after Chakrawarti's assault, which left Majid Akram (1-23) and McMahon to take the two remaining wickets and round off an astonishing success.
|
|
|
|
|
|