Last years champions AK11 started their defence of the Hunts Indoor League in style with a convincing 63 run win against Hampton in the first round of matches at Bushfield Sports Centre. AK won the toss and batted first making 157-3 in their 10 overs. Batsmen retire at 25 and then recycle back in, with openers Abrar Ahmed and Sudheer Jafeer both retiring and then coming back in to make 38 and 37 respectively. Middle order man Hamza Shamim chipped in with a crucial 27, before captain Muhammad Nadeem Zahid took 2 catches and a run out to stop Hampton in their tracks. Saqab Ali (34) and Ali Ghazanfar (26) were the top scorers for Hampton.
10 times winners and last years runners up Bretton started the season with a 3-wicket defeat against Werrington. Ethan Bennett with 50 dominated Bretton’s innings of 94 all out with Werrington captain Muhammad Toseeq leading from the front with 2-16. In reply 3 quick wickets in the 40’s had Werrington wobbling with Bennett again in the action with a run out and talented teenager Tyler Downing picking up a wicket and a run out, but an unbeaten 26 from Bilal Mushtaq and 22 from Ansar Ali and 20 from Captain Toseeq saw Werrington home.
2018/2019 champions Ufford Park also started their indoor campaign with a defeat going down to Pak Azad by 18 runs. The Pak Azad score of 141-5 was dominated by opening batsman Sharoz Hussain. Sharoz retired quickly at 25 and then returned, but in indoor cricket there is a last man stand policy that does not see the innings finished until all 6 batsmen are out and he certainly made full use of that national indoor rule smashing 6 sixes and 3 fours in a brutal unbeaten 78. Only Adbul Waris offered most support with 28. For Ufford Usman Sadiq was exceptional only conceding 5 runs from his 2 overs, while run out specialist Waheed Javed was at it again. Javed has had hundreds of brilliant indoor direct hits over the last two decades and he started the season in the same vein of form with two outstanding direct hits. Javed and Sadiq got Ufford off to a good start with 47 and 30 and they were supported by top order batsman Alex Beveridge with 22, but this was to be all in vain as Sheroz Hussain had a man of the match performance to pick up 2 crucial wickets.
Wansford have returned to the Hunts Indoor League after several years away and they were close to a first win narrowly going down by 6 runs to Sheikh CC. Sheikh’s score of 124 all out was built around scores of 31 from Naqash Zaheer and 29 from Usman Hanif. Wansford gave away too many extras but Dhasaradh Janardhan was tight and bowled a good line and length taking 3-12.
In reply despite an unbeaten 40 from wicket keeper batsman Andy Briault and 27 from Kester Sainsbury Sheikh just squeezed home.
Week 1 Results – Sunday 22nd October 2023.
Pak Azad beat Ufford Park by 18 runs.
Pak Azad 141-5 from 10 overs. Sharoz Hussain 78 not out (6x6 and 3x4) Abdul Waris 28 (1x6 and 1x4)
Ufford Park 123-4 from 10 overs Waheed Javed 47 (4x6 and 2x4), Usman Sadiq 30 (2x4), Alex Beveridge 22 (2x6), Sheroz Hussain 2-28
Ak11 beat Hampton by 63 runs.
AK11 157-3 from 10 overs. Abrar Ahmed 38 not out (1x6 and 1x4), Sudheer Jafeer 37 (1x6 and 2x4), Hamza Shamim 27 – Retired (1x6 and 1x4), Zaheer Abbas 16 (1x4)
Hampton 94 all out from 8 overs. Saqab Ali 34 (2x6 and 2x4), Ali Ghazanfar 26 (1x6 and 1x4)
Sheikh beat Wansford 6 runs.
Sheikh 124 all out from 9.2 overs. Naqash Zaheer 31 (1x4), Usman Hanif 29 (3x6 and 2x4), Dhasaradh Janardhan 3-12
Wansford 118-3 from 10 overs. Andy Briault 40 not out (2x6, 2x4), Kester Sainsbury 27 – Retired (1x6 and 1x4), Divyan Harish 18 not out (1x4)
Werrington beat Bretton by 3 wickets.
Bretton 94 all out from 9.2 overs. Ethan Bennett 50 (2x6 and 1x4), Muhammad Toseeq 2-16
Werrington 100-3 wickets from 6.3 overs. Bilal Mushtaq 26 – Retired (1x6 and 1x4), Ansar Ali 22 (1x6 and 1x4), Muhammad Toseeq 20 not out (2x6 and 2x4), Junaid Hussain 15 (2x6)
FIXTURES:
WEEK 2 – SUNDAY 29TH OCTOBER 2023:
2.30pm – Pak Azad v Werrington
3.30pm – Hampton v Sheikh
4.30pm – Wansford v AK11
5.30pm - Bretton v Ufford Park
Thanks
Any questions or problems, please phone me on 07388 949 572. The scorecards and league table will be on the Huntingdonshire Cricket Competitions website in the next 72 hours where you can also find all the results and league tables of the last 5 years.