Valley End, Sunday 10 May 2026.

Valley End 234-6 dec (34 overs: Josh Cormier 51* ret, Arjun Balashanker 50* ret, Samer Hafiz 3-44) beat St Anne’s Allstars 107 all out (36 overs: Ash Kakkirani 26, Joe Fisher 3-16) by 127 runs.

Allstars Debuts: Ash Kakkirani, Anurag Seri.

Scorecard

Report by Garreth Duncan – Photos by Anindya Roy and opposition

Valley End are a formidable institution in their leafy Surrey surroundings. Their impressive operation now extends to three pitches, two club houses and six regular league XIs to go alongside their Sunday social team. Having resumed our long-standing fixture with them last year after a Covid and weather-induced hiatus, we were delighted to be welcomed by them again as we ventured outside the capital for the first time in 2026, and found them generous hosts as always. Such resources were always going to present a huge challenge to the Allstars – but we battled gamely once again before their victory was confirmed.

We played on our hosts’ main pitch for the first time. Allstars skipper Vivek Seth won the toss and, with the declaration format in mind, chose to field on what looked like a good batting surface. Ben Hampton, fresh from his welcome return against Mandarins, began with a whole-hearted opening spell. He was unlucky not to win a close LBW decision against Valley End opener Daniel Jackson – but got a deserved breakthrough as he bowled Steve Wanigesekera with a beauty. Jackson and Arjun Balashanker keep the score moving. It was Phani Sainath, whom we were also pleased to welcome back, who broke the stand with his first delivery, which Jackson hit straight to Ben at mid-wicket to leave Valley End 70-2.

Anurag Seri, on his Allstars debut, entered the fray with some handy left-arm seam. Balashanker looked a very accomplished player, and with Josh Cormier also showing quality, the run-rate continued to climb. Fielding was proving challenging on an enormous playing surface, as twos became threes and even all-run fours – although fellow debutant Ash Kakkirani excelled with some brilliant stops.

At the drinks break Valley End were 161-2. But Samer Hafiz had already begun a probing spell of left-arm spin, and together with Anindya Roy, applied the brakes. With both Balashanker and Cormier retiring having reached their fifties, the spin twins got to work. Richard Slatford was putting together a great display behind the stumps, and Joe Fisher was lucky to survive two stumping chances – but they weren’t critical as Samer knocked back his stumps. Roy was also proving difficult to get away, and Stephen Bond eventually cracked under the pressure as he skied him to Ben at mid-on.

Harrison Francis went for his shots before missing a straight one from Samer, and he then grabbed a third, Slats finally being rewarded for his glovework as Ian Davison charged and missed. Having been potentially facing a total of over 300, we could be well pleased to have restricted Valley End to 234 when the declaration came. Valley End’s tea has long been one of the favourites on our circuit, and was as delicious as ever – but batting out 43 overs would certainly test us to the limits.

Our two debutants were more than up for the challenge of opening the batting – and Ash made a sparkling start as 30 came off the first 4 overs. But Valley End opener Shankar Das struck back with two wickets in an over. Ash was desperately unlucky to be bowled off his foot by a ball that looked to be going well wide, before Kiran Chittajallu, playing for the first time since our Ibiza tour, was next to go as Das rattled his stumps. Anurag looked comfortable before falling LBW to Davison, who’d proved our undoing in last year’s fixture, to leave us 44-3.

A draw was still within our reach, and with Slats joining Samer at the wicket, 10 overs were safely negotiated. Samer was looking in fine touch – but he was the next to go as he edged to Cormier behind the stumps. I got a good bit of bat on my second delivery, only for Wanigesekera at mid-on to pluck it out of the air with a brilliant overhead catch.

Luke “Deadbat” Dooley, in a situation nicely suited to his batting style, came out to join stepdad Slats, and the pair continued to tick the overs down. But it was Slats who was next to go, as he skied Fisher to extra cover. Sai briefly resisted before Wanigesekera bowled him, before Ben, playing his natural game, was also bowled to give Fisher a second wicket. Wanigesekera finally ended Luke’s stubborn resistance as he disturbed his stumps, before skipper Vivek was also bowled.

Even though the tenth wicket had fallen, Valley End generously allowed Nathaniel Hill, who’d done an excellent job as our scorer, to have a bat. He battled hard and chiselled out a few runs, while Roy had some fun at the other end, continuing his fine batting form after his useful knock against Mandarins. In the clubhouse, the Allstars Arsenal contingent’s attention was drawn towards the unfolding drama at the London Stadium, as West Ham’s added-time equaliser was ruled out by VAR – but back on the cricket pitch, it was Fisher who had the final say by bowling Nathaniel.

This was another fantastic day’s cricket, and the Allstars were all in fine spirits as we enjoyed Valley End’s hospitality once again. We look forward to our return there next May – but next up, on the weekend we celebrate 25 years since our first official Allstars game, we’re back in the capital as we face Karnataka Challengers in Barn Elms.