Barn Elms Sports Centre, Sunday 16 August 2026.

The Min 144-4 (21.1 overs: Paris Grappy 42, Iain Wilson 2-23) beat St Anne’s Allstars 143-8 (35 overs: Matt Biss 42, Sam Perera 41, Philip Beswick 2-9) by 6 wickets.

Scorecard

Report by Garreth Duncan – Photos by Ben Hampton and Garreth Duncan

The Min are a social team very much in our own spirit, dating back over 40 years and having several generations playing for their club. Fresh from our win over Mighty Wanderers, we arrived at Barn Elms, in the shadow of Fulham FC’s brand new stand overhanging the Thames, with high hopes of a second successive victory. It proved not to be – but not without a great fight in which the Allstars gave it everything.

It was great to welcome back the Haddow-Allen family, without whom our club simply wouldn’t exist. Three generations of them were in attendance, with our founder Maxie, his brother Felix and sister Aurelia being joined by their mum Joy, their respective other halves Rosalind, Kate and Anthony, and all their children. We were also pleased to welcome back Sam Perera, returning to us after 4 years in his native Sri Lanka.

Maxie, returning to the helm as he did for so many years in the past, won the toss and elected to bat. With the drought in its umpteenth week, the Barn Elms pitch was very much as expected – bone dry, cracked and misbehaving. Matt Biss and Ben Hampton opened for the Allstars, and made a disciplined start. Ben crunched an early boundary before being bowled by Gunner.

Sam Perera joined Matt in the middle, and they settled in, calmly taking stock of the conditions and seeing off the opening bowlers. The Min’s secretary Richard Beswick entered the fray, and probed away on his usual tight line and length – but Matt and Sam stood firm and slowly began to increase the scoring rate. They had put on 94 before Sam was run out in a mix-up over a second run.

This was just the breakthrough The Min needed, and from there on, they took a hold on the game that they were never to relinquish. Philip Beswick bowled Matt, relishing the battle on a tough surface as always, before Anthony became our second run-out of the day. Luke Dooley hit a boundary before becoming Gunner’s second victim, and Philip Beswick then took his second as he caught and bowled Phani Sainath.

It was fantastic to see Felix joined at the crease by his 10-year-old son Ned, who became the first of the new Haddow-Allen generation to make his batting debut for us. But with the overs running out, risks had to be taken, and Ned was run out as they pushed for a single. I was caught behind off the final scheduled delivery, and we had a target of 144 to defend – not much, but possible if the pitch continued to play tricks.

Ben gave us the perfect start with the ball, bowling The Min skipper Brock Boyd-Taylor with his second delivery, before Anthony also picked up a deserved wicket by rattling Etheridge’s stumps. Paris Grappy looked an accomplished batsman, and together with Baker they began to whittle the target down.

The Allstars never give up without the greatest of fights, and the combative Iain Wilson kept us in the game, letting out a primeval roar as he bowled Baker. He soon struck again as Grappy was well held by Sai at mid-wicket, and at 78-4 we still had a chance. But Roger and Jack Stacey were in fine form, and they continued to knock off the runs. Ned was cheered by all as he bowled a useful spell – but The Min finished the job with plenty overs to spare.

This was still a great family day out, and we all gathered in our old haunt the Red Lion reminiscing about great Allstars games of the past and looking forward to the future. We wish The Min all the best for the rest of their season – but next up, we’re back north of the river tomorrow to face the mighty Edgware at Mill Hill Village.