Dundonald Recreation Ground, Sunday 13 July 2025.
Gentlemen of West London 242-2 (25 overs: Venky Chowdhary 52 ret, Vinitesh Gulati 52 ret) beat St Anne’s Allstars 92-5 (25 overs: RIchard Slatford 35*, Praveen Sasidhar 3-18) by 150 runs.
Photos by Nathaniel Hill
Barn Elms Sports Centre, Sunday 29 June 2025.
Karnataka Challengers 227 all out (35 overs: S Kashyap 59; Iain Wilson 2-28; Jimmy Scott 2-41) beat St Anne’s Allstars 108 all out (27.2 overs: A Kumar 3-29; P Krishna 2-5) by 119 runs.
Photos by Nathaniel Hill
King George’s Field, Ham, Saturday 14 June 2025.
St Anne’s Allstars 132-3 (25.2 overs: Lipu Rahman 38) beat Mighty Wanderers 128 all out (23.1 overs: Ewan Coull 38*, Mathan Olaganathan 5-13, Shahed Ahmed 4-15) by 7 wickets.
Report by Garreth Duncan- Photos by Garreth Duncan, James Abrahams, Jimmy Scott and Nathaniel Hill
Ham is such a pretty spot, it’s hard to believe you’re still within Greater London, and it’s been the setting for many exciting Allstars games in the past. A few miles away, at Twickenham, the brilliant Scot Finn Russell exorcised his Calcutta Cup goal-kicking demons as Bath overcame Leicester in a thrilling Rugby Premiership final. And we too had stars of the day, with stand-out bowling performances from Mathan Olaganathan and Shahed Ahmed setting us on the way to victory over a spirited Mighty Wanderers side, to register our first win of the 2025 season and retain the James Abrahams Trophy in fine style – watched by the great man himself and his lovely wife Jo.
With the rugby causing heavy traffic in the area, a late start meant the game was shortened to 30 overs a side. Wanderers skipper James Petersen-Knight won the toss and decided to bat. But we got off to a golden start in the first over as Mathan found his range straight away, drawing a thick outside edge from Daijit for Nathaniel Hill to take a difficult, juggling catch at third man.
It was a fabulous cricketing moment, and it lit the spark for one of the most devastating opening spells in our history. In his second over, Mathan blasted out Petersen-Knight’s off stump. Jai came in and was seemingly set on smashing everything out of the ground – and Sanj Sharma was unlucky not to dismiss him as a couple of catches went down – but Mathan soon got him too as Ben Hampton, whom we were delighted to welcome back after a 9 year absence, showed us how to catch. Leahy followed quickly in Mathan’s next over as he edged to RIchard Slatford behind the stumps, to leave Wanderers at 37-4.
Jimmy Scott had sportingly agreed to turn out for the opposition, and was welcomed to the crease with some friendly banter. But the second great spell of the day was just beginning, as Shahed found some sharp turn and bounce to bowl him off an inside edge. Left-hander Tommy Bell began ominously, greeting Ben’s return to bowling action with two massive leg-side sixes – but Shahed ended his stay with a smart caught and bowled, before bowling Tjasink with his next ball. Rigby kept out the hat-trick ball, but he didn’t last much longer as Ben bowled him next over. Wanderers were now 61-8 and we hadn’t even reached the drinks break.
But in all the years we’ve been playing Wanderers, we know they don’t give up without a fight, and Ewan Coull and Scott McManus led their riposte. Both pushed hard for runs and hit strongly down the ground, and they had more than doubled the score before I recalled Mathan for a final burst. “Michelle” didn’t need to wait too long, as Mathan broke the stand with another cracker to bowl McManus for his fifth wicket. Shahed took a deserved fourth by bowling last man Jono Charlton, and we congratulated them both for some great bowling.
Lipu Rahman had begun his 2025 season in glorious fashion with a maiden Allstars hundred in our opening fixture against Mandarins, and he carried on where he’d left off that day at Dulwich. Wanderers’ opening bowlers Tjasink, so often a thorn in our side in the past, and Charlton were quickly hit out of the attack as Lipu dealt almost exclusively in boundaries. Extras were helping us too, as a lightning fast outfield punished almost every keeping lapse with four byes. With John Kingston settling into a solid anchor role in support, the opening pair had put on 81 by the 12th over before Lipu top-edged to a strangely positioned fine third man.
Sirmad Shafique, playing his first game of the season, joined John at the crease and played some fine shots as the target came within reach. But Wanderers would still not surrender, Bell proving as useful a bowler as he’d shown with the bat as he slowed the scoring rate before bowling Sirmad. Sanj, looking to finish the job quickly before a Saturday night date with the missus, dispatched Rigby for two fours and a six over long leg before being caught with the scores level. But, deservedly, it was John who was rewarded for his graft as the Irishman hit the winning runs through point.
James fittingly presented the trophy which bears his name, and we all gathered in the Fox & Duck pub on a sunny evening to celebrate our victory. Mighty Wanderers are great guys, and we wish them well for the rest of their season. But next up, we’re in Barn Elms as we take on our good friends the Railway Taverners on Sunday 29 June.
Valley End, Sunday 11 May 2025.
Valley End 212-2 dec (38 overs: Josh Cormier 53 ret; Matthew Parfitt 51 ret) beat St Anne’s Allstars 112 all out (28 overs: Pradosh Bose 30; Ian Davison 4-16) by 100 runs.
Allstars Debuts: Akhil Anilkumar, Sanj Sharma.
Report by Garreth Duncan – Photos by Anindya Roy, Garreth Duncan and Nic Knight
It is great to return to Valley End after such a long absence. Despite being a regular fixture on our calendar as far back as 2013, it seemed as though the fates were beginning to conspire against us ever playing them again – since our last fixture in 2019, Covid, three successive washouts, and a mix-up over a ground booking, had led some Allstars to question whether their lovely ground in Surrey was a kind of Brigadoon which only appears magically every 75 years. They were delighted to welcome us again, and as always, looked after us fantastically. With a mighty playing resource at all levels, they were always favourites to win – but only after another battling display in which we gave our all.
We were pleased to welcome two new faces to the Allstars. Sanj Sharma, who found us on Instagram, bravely strapped up his knee injury to pass himself fit to play, and Akhil Anikumar, the latest of our our Banbury contingent – some of whom were playing back to back games that weekend, having featured for Wing CC the previous day.
On a gorgeous sunny day, Valley End skipper Matthew Parfitt won the toss and chose to bat. Allstars skipper Barathwaj Nagarajan immediately showed faith in our two debutants, throwing them in at the deep end by asking them both to open the bowling. Both Akhil and Sanj quickly showed they were up for the challenge, finding a good length and line and giving Valley End openers Austen Reedman and Josh Cormier little to play at. It soon became apparent that the bounce was a little uneven – the ball lifting off a length from one end, and scuttling through at the other – but neither Akhil nor Sanj got the break that their excellent opening spells deserved. Pradosh Bose, returning after an excellent start to Allstars cricket last season, replaced Sanj at the far end, and he soon found the same spot – but still without any reward.
It was to be the spinners who provided the first breakthrough. Our co-captain Vivek Seth, in his 17th season for the Allstars and closing in on a century of caps, is bowling better than ever, and he soon settled onto an immaculate line. Initially missing out as two difficult chances went down – though one would have been the catch of the season had it been held – he finally got the wicket he deserved by bowling Reedman. Seeing that spin was bringing rewards, skipper Barathwaj brought himself on to bowl, and his variations instantly troubled all the batsmen. He struck soon after the drinks break, pinning Bodoano lbw.
There were to be no more wickets – but, despite having only 10 players, we still stuck really well to our task in the field to keep the score down. Anindya Roy, in particular, made some heroic stops on the boundary, and I finished with matching bruises on both ankles from stopping some fierce cover drives close in. But Valley End’s canny mixture of colts and veterans continued on their way, and they eventually declared at 212 for 2 just before the allotted 40 overs were up.
Since Covid, cricket teas have gone out of fashion at some venues – but not this one. Valley End’s tea was worth the wait, a fantastic selection even including a cheese board.
Suitably refreshed, Matt Biss and Nic Knight set out to open the batting for the Allstars. But we got off to a bad start as Matt, on the lookout for a quick single, saw an opportunity as the ball went to the left side of the right-handed Cormier. Unfortunately, as Valley End secretary Ed Walters informed me, he’s their best fielder, and he threw down the stumps direct to send Nic on his way. Nic had to head off early for some family time, and we had some fun winding up Matt by saying he’d stormed off early in a huff – but, ever generous, Matt has assured Nic he owes him a pint. Sanj began his first Allstars innings usefully, but Valley End’s head groundsman Martin Fagent found the shooter spot on the pitch to bowl him – and, just as he was beginning to find some batting rhythm, Matt picked out Cormier at cover again. We were 34 for 3 and victory already looked out of sight – but we still had the draw to play for.
John Kingston, returning to the county where he’d had his first taste of English cricket after arriving from the Emerald Isle, and showed stout resistance, and Roy continued his good day as they began to tick the overs down. But Ian Davison continued to probe with his accurate medium pace, and he bowled both John and Akhil in quick succession. Having crunched Davison for a boundary through midwicket, I then hooked his next delivery down short fine leg’s throat. Soon after, left-armer Charlie Deane disturbed Roy’s stumps, and we were 58 for 7.
Still, Valley End knew their job wasn’t yet done – they kept asking where our “gun” players were hiding down the order. Barathwaj and Pradosh set about the task well, keeping the good balls out and dispatching the bad ones to the fence. Pradosh in particular looked in really good touch – but the pitch still had a few tricks up its sleeve, and his innings was ended as George Champion bowled him with another shooter. Skipper Parfitt then finished the job for his team as he bowled both Vivek and the returning Akhil. Barath was left stranded on 24 not out – but he’d skippered well against tough opposition and did not deserve defeat.
So it was Valley End’s day on the pitch – but it still couldn’t have been a better day. They are a real friendly bunch, and we enjoyed a beer and helped them finish their excellent tea as we chatted over a good day’s cricket. Hopefully we won’t have another 6 year wait before we return – but next up, we defend the James Abrahams Trophy against our old friends Mighty Wanderers at a stunning setting, the grounds of the National Trust property Ham House in Richmond.
Mill Hill Village CC, Sunday 27 April 2025.
Edgware CC 117-1 (9 overs; Rahul Kothari 75*) beat St Anne’s Allstars 113 all out (Nic Knight 30; Rahul Kothari 4-8; Vraj Patel 3-15) by 9 wickets.
Allstars Debuts: Luke Dooley, Ollie Slatford, Zain Ul Abidin.
Report by Matt Biss – Photos by Nathaniel Hill and Samer Hafiz
We’re back at Mill Hill: where the Misery Line goes to die.
It’s about as rural as it gets by tube, with Mill Hill Village CC nestled between hedges and pasture and hillocks and Europe’s most overpopulated garden centre with queues round several blocks. And maybe that was the problem. Or maybe everyone was joylessly watching Manchester City get from Wembley to Wembley in the FA Cup. Whatever the cause, by 1pm when we’re due to be playing Edgware CC 2nd XI, just like the fans of the invisible man: we’re not really here.
A good job then that upon losing the toss, stand-in skipper, stand-up bloke Samer Hafiz was asked by his opposite number if he fancied batting first. And following a short delay while enough reinforcements arrived to umpire and pad up, he and Zain Ul Abidin strode out to face a challenging opening burst from our oppo, under strict instructions to stay there as long as possible to increase the chances of some other blokes showing up to replace them.
Opening is second nature to Samer, and he set about blunting the sharpish outswing of Rahul Kothari and the canny cutters and induckers of Tushyam Sonecha with soft hands, a clear mind and a grasp of where his off peg was living. But these things don’t come quickly or easily, and Zain takes great credit for fronting up on debut as Samer’s opening partner – a tough assignment against decent bowling. He was unfortunate to chip one to cover that maybe stopped a little in the pitch to end his resistance. We look forward to seeing what his spin bowling and wicket keeping can do for us in the coming fixtures.
By this time our numbers had been boosted not just by Slats, but Slats and Stepslats as well. Those Slatses in full courtesy of Slatsguru [TM]: Allstars legend and gloveman supreme Richard Slatford – who’ll continue to be slated as Slats, and two debutants: Slats’s nephew Ollie (who we’ll deSlatsify for now and call Ollie), and Slats’s stepson Luke Dooley.
It was Ollie who stepped up at three, and proceeded to show he had a bit about him with a gorgeous punch through cover point for four – our first boundary, and only one for a while. We started to rotate the strike before Ollie was undone by one from Kothari that maybe kept a touch low.
Time for the OG Slats and Samer to rebuild, although from 11-2 it was more a case of laying the foundations. Whatever – we started to get a toehold in the game, Samer calmly absorbing the early pressure, and Slats working the ball around nicely, a lovely dab/cut for four backward of point catching the eye. We’d got through the openers’ spells with no further damage, but the signs that it wasn’t going to be our day were there: a sumptuous Samer straight drive rearranged the non-striker’s stumps via the fortunate fingertips of Vraj Patel. Slats had been backing up properly, and was run out for 13. It’s not a game of justice.
Vraj then removed Vijay Mishra and Nathaniel Hill, both of whom were unfortunate to get good ones early up which bowled them, neither of whom got out of round figures.
In between times, Samer’s stout resistance was ended unluckily as he was strangled down the leg side, again off the marauding Vraj, whose 3-15 would have been the outstanding figures on most days. The book says 7 off 51, but it was a proper contribution from the skipper who steered the ship beyond 50, picking up extras and rotating the strike nicely. Nonetheless, we found ourselves 55-6, and in a bit of strife.
Better news: our Knight (Nic) in shining armour (Chingford CC whites and a nice cableknit jumper) had by now been able to join us and he and Luke ‘Deadbat’ Dooley saw us to drinks (61-6 off 20) and well beyond, with a combination of assiduous self-denial, good shot selection and no little skill.
Nic was the relative aggressor, popping a six over extra cover and another over long on to lighten our moods, in between sustained periods of solidity. Luke, meanwhile, was a cool-handed foil throughout, absorbing pressure, giving Edgware nothing, and batting with a maturity belying his newness to the game. As with Samer, his numbers (5 off 45) don’t tell the story of how well he batted. Both departed in consecutive balls, Luke pinned plumb in front by the dangerous quick leggies of Jaimin Patel, and Nic caught off the returning Kothari for a well-compiled 30.
Phani Sainath and Anindya Roy found themselves lower down the order than they or we would have liked, given the logistically chaotic nature of the day – Roy had the misfortune of getting his pad blown off by a good one from Kothari early up, before Sai’s resistance was ended by another good one from Jaimin a few overs later.
As ever we needed Eric Xavier Tras to keep things ticking for us, and our most consistent performer didn’t disappoint with 48, thanks to 13 from Brian Yes and a 25 from the mercurial Walter Ides that could have been more were it not for umpiring lenience. Us: 113 all out in the 38th over.
We won’t dwell on the chase, because Edgware chose not to dwell on it either. 9 overs in and they’d amassed 117 in what analysts are calling a shellacking. Shorn of our regular seam attack (and indeed any other seam attack), Ollie and Vijay were, it transpired, the sacrificial lambs.
Clearly concerned that he wasn’t getting his match fee’s worth, Edgware sent Rahul Kothari to open the batting alongside Yash Bhatt (the answer to the question: “Mr. Connery, on a 30 degree day with a flat wicket would you do the obvious thing at the toss?”), and he wasted little time in walloping our attack to all corners of the field and some adjacent fields too. Both Vijay and Ollie did little wrong and showed character to keep coming in when the punishment kept being meted out. Vijay found a nice length and will doubtless get his rewards on another day, while Ollie even got a triptych of rewards himself: a wicket (Bhatt, smartly caught and bowled for a 6-ball 14 that did not involve playing yourself in), a maiden(!), and the first figures of 4-1(!)-56-1 in the country this century, I’d be confident in guessing.
Samer brought himself on to spare the others further punishment after Kothari reached 50 off 28 balls and then, rather than retiring, decided to accelerate, somehow. The eighth over was a four ball over by which I mean there were six legal deliveries but four discrete spheres of leather employed sequentially after their predecessors had been yeeted into ditches/thickets/parts unknown.
Edgware 2nd XI won by 9 wickets, and Rahul Kothari’s 34-ball 75 and 8-2-8-4 should mean he’s at least in the conversation for a 1st team call-up sometime soon.
We, meanwhile, can content ourselves with the fact that we’ve some new blood that will improve us, and that tomorrow (well, May 11th at Valley End, if it exists) is another day.
St Anne's Allstars 