SRDS Cricket Challenge Cup
Hi all,
On Sunday 3rd September SRDS Sport with the help of Samaj Committee held the third barbeque for the London Dhobi Samaj at the Post Office sport ground, Sudbury. The weather was a bit dull but those who attended (around 150) had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. For the barbeque we had Chicken, pork sausages, corn on the cob, mogo (cassava) and also Desi Masala chicken liver with toasted buns.
There were several activities such as cake decoration, face painting etc. I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who gave their time to make this possible and also a success (to name just a couple, our President who ran around on Saturday doing all the shopping, and a very special thank you to the lady that has provided us with delicious cakes for the last three years).
I shall ask the Samaj committee to select a date for the 2018 BBQ event at the next meeting so you can make arrangement to attend. Hopefully in 2018 we can have attendance of over 200!
If anyone (or your children) wants to play various sports being played in our community please contact the following captains:-
Volleyball: Bhavin Vaghela (07946656587)
Pools: Rakesh Chauhan (07766361578)
Darts: Sailesh Solanki (07956497180)
Football: Open position
Written by SRDS Sports Chairman: Harshad Solanki (07932457823)
“London secure cup with commanding display over Rugby…”
London sealed their first win of the ‘SRDS Cricket Challenge Cup’ after condemning Rugby to a resounding 63 run defeat.
SRDS Rugby, whose skipper, Chetan Rana, won the toss in this 25 over per side battle, elected to field on a slightly blustery and grey day in Sudbury, North West London. Rugby took full advantage of the favourable overhead bowling conditions and the damp wicket by brilliantly by taking the wicket of SRDS London captain and talisman, Alkesh Solanki, third ball of the day, clean bowled by swing bowler Kirit Joshi, for a duck. This wicket bought the loudest and happiest cheers from the Rugby players and supporters alike. This was then followed by the crucial wicket of all-rounder Bhavin Vaghela, out cheaply for 7 on this slow track. London were 15-2 at the end of the 5th over. Opening batsman Pradip Gohil was caught out by the bowling of Jaikishan Vaghela for 5 – at this stage London were reeling at 30-3 in the 7th over.
They were in critical condition and needed some stability before the innings became terminal. Luckily, London’s youngest player Vineet Solanki along with Amit Maru doggedly held it together and built a vital 38 run partnership before Amit Maru was caught off the bowling off-spinner Nayan Vaghela. This bought Viren Solanki to the crease, who mid innings had to change his bat, alas this did not bring any luck as he was bowled by a clever slower ball from Chetan. With score at 77-5 London were reeling and needed some luck to post a defendable total. This was the challenge set and Hiran Chohan, coming in at no7, along with Vineet, showed grit and determination, building a partnership of 58 that frankly turned the game to the favour London.
When, in the 20th over of the innings, with the score on 135, Vineet was caught & bowled off the bowling of Chetan for 47, he was 3 short of a much deserved half century. The wicket of Vineet did not dampen the spirits of the London players, it gave Hiran the responsibility to bat as long as possible and steer London to a big total. He delivered with some hefty blows, hitting four 4’s and one 6 in his strong innings of 44. When he finally succumbed the score was 155. Rakesh Chohan (1 run), Jatin Chohan (5 runs), Hitesh Parmar (7 not out) and Paresh Solanki (0 not out) all helped London finish on 175-9 off 25 overs.
You would think that it would be daunting total for SRDS Rugby to chase. Having won the last 2 encounters, the Rugby players seemed quietly confident that they could chase down London’s big score for a hat trick of victories. However, Rugby were just not at the races; mostly due to the stylish swing bowling of Hitesh Parmar. He ended with astounding figures of 4 wickets for 9 runs off 5 overs. He simply tore the heart out Rugby’s top order with a masterclass in the lost art of outswing bowling. The wicket of opener, Rugby’s vice-captain, Bhavik Solanki, who scored 17 classy runs during his short time at the crease, gave London the boost it needed; as Bhavik has a reputation of big scores once he gets his eye in. Wickets continued to fall regularly throughout the Rugby chase, with their skipper Chetan Rana, taking full advantage of some of London’s change bowling, he helped himself to 45 runs (not out) by slamming four 4s in his solid innings.
For London, medium pacer Rakesh Chohan, off spinner Bhavin Vaghela and slow spinner Paresh Solanki all chipped in with wickets and Rugby’s innings finished on 112-9 off 25 overs. The weather was closing in with ominous clouds over the Post Office Ground but London broke their duck with this well-deserved victory over London. It was the classical team performance with bat and ball, as the moto for SRDS Cricket goes.....Together we are Stronger.
Roll on for 2018, when Rugby will be hosting the 4th Annual SRDS Cricket Challenge Cup, with London hoping to make the score 2-2.
Man of the Match – Hitesh Parmar.
Written by Alkesh Solanki
