Scorecard

Hatfield and Crusaders CC 1st XI v Northwood Town Cricket Club Saturday 1st XI on Sat 21 Jun 2025 at 12:00
Northwood Town Cricket Club Won by 5 wickets

Match report Town travelled to Hatfield & Crusaders looking to keep their away record squeaky clean. With the sun expected to roast everyone alive, the dream was simple: win the toss, bat first, drink cold water, and pretend we’re professionals. Unfortunately, Skipper Anjum did what he does best—lose the toss—and H&C gleefully decided to bat.

Everyone expected a batting paradise. But Daly and Malik clearly didn’t get the memo. With the pitch behaving like it had a personal vendetta against batsmen and clouds rolling in like uninvited guests, the opening pair made the pitch feel like a dangerous trap. Daly struck early, removing opener Collins before he could sweat through his shirt. The second wicket pair tried to build something respectable—mostly relying on luck, edges, and the fielders politely not catching things. But Malik had enough and removed the dangerous B Golder. Blink and you’d miss it—suddenly H&C were 55/5 after 14 overs. Yes, FIFTY-FIVE. That’s not a typo. Han pulled off a diving catch that might have been low and tricky, or maybe he just made it look that way to get on camera—either way, credit where due, great bucket hands. Then Rajani came on to bowl… and gave H&C a lovely little gift: 29 runs in 2 overs. “Generosity is in our DNA,” he later did not say. That 6th wicket partnership cashed in with 44 runs. Anjum had seen enough and decided to take matters into his own hands—literally. He grabbed 3 quick wickets and was well supported by vice-skip K Patel who bagged 2 of his own. Young Vadgama (filling in after a last-minute dropout) made a simple catch look like a Hollywood stunt thanks to his leisurely pace—still, a catch is a catch. H&C eventually stumbled to 140 all out, Puzzled by how they went from bright hopes to a complete breakdown. This bowling performance was so good, even Madhavan took the day off from playing hero!

With Loomba sunning himself elsewhere, S Patel was sent up the order to open with Gairola—and what a start! The pair were in full control, punishing anything loose, tight, or merely present. Gairola played all around the park, was dropped a few times (classic), and took full advantage—as any self-respecting batter should. S Patel eventually fell, bringing Han to the crease, looking for runs like a man searching for Wi-Fi in the jungle. He tried to ease in, then remembered he’s in a cricket match and played across the line. LBW. Cheers, ump. His run drought continues, but his spot in the side is safe… mostly because he handles the Uber Eats orders. Gairola kept firing, cruising to another fifty and looking every bit the in-form man of the season. After he left to well-deserved applause, Madhavan carried on the good work, joined by Bahl who did what Bahl does—go hard or go home. He did both, eventually departing with just 12 runs needed. In came K Vadgama, riding on pre-game hype like a man with something to prove. Unfortunately, his innings turned out to be more panic than heroics. Timid, unsure, and over faster than you can say “not again.” Looks like the 1st XI selectors can sleep easy… unless there’s another Friday night dropout.

Town eventually got home with 5 wickets in hand, another solid win in the bag.


Skipper Anjum’s Post-Match Words of Wisdom:
“I’m running out of words for the team’s bowling and fielding efforts. Everyone’s sticking to plans. Really happy with the opening partnership too… probably helped that Loomba wasn’t playing. But we’re not getting ahead of ourselves—tough games ahead. One match at a time. And hopefully one toss win too. Great to see Gairola continuing his top form and another not out for Nish!”

Hatfield and Crusaders CC 1st XI Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
17w 2lb 
for 10 wickets
19
140 (33.5 overs)		     
M Collins b  J Daly 4
B Golder ct  K Patel b S Malik 27 4
B Phillips b  J Daly 12
Y Kalaykor lbw  S Malik 0
J James ct  J Han b S Malik 4 1
P Singh lbw  I Anjum 29 5
S Bezlawar lbw  I ANjum 6 1
I Golder ct  K Vadgama b K Patel 2
R Gethin-Golder b  K Patel 23 5
D Hosiza ct  S Malik b I Anjum 13 1
G Wynne Not Out  0

Northwood Town Cricket Club Saturday 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Jack Daly8.0024212.003.00
Sajid Shafique Malik8.0140313.335.00
Karan Rajani2.002900.0014.50
Iqbal Anjum8.532739.003.06
Krunal Patel7.031929.502.71

Northwood Town Cricket Club Saturday 1st XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
7w 1lb 
for 5 wickets
8
141		        
Sangeet Patel ct  b I Golder 20 2
Deepak Gairola ct  b G Wynne 53 9
James Han lbw  S Bezlawar 10 1 1
Nischay Madhavan Not Out  29 4
Rohit Bahl b  D Hosiza 19 3 1
Kunj Vadgama ct  D Hosiza 3 1
Iqbal Anjum Not Out  0
Krunal Patel   1
Karan Rajani  
Jack Daly  
Sajid Shafique Malik   1

Hatfield and Crusaders CC 1st XI Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
I Golder8.0135135.004.38
R Gethin-Golder5.021800.003.60
S Bezlawar6.0119119.003.17
J James3.002300.007.67
G Wynne6.0121121.003.50
D Hosiza5.4020210.003.53

  • Umpire :
    Colin Lynch
  • Scorer :