Ealing CC 4s vs Osterley 3s

Ealing CC 4th IX traveled out to the imperial college ground in excitement for the first game of the season at home vs Osterley 3rd Team.

After the 4th teams’ not very hardcore pre-season training regime, we were slightly less fit and less practiced than the end of the preceding season. But not to worry we went into the game full of confidence against a team which have been promoted into the league from the 1987 league.

Ealing won the toss and put Osterley in to bat with the weather overcast and the wicket green. Mayuran & Rattan opened the bowling and got us off to a good start taking the wickets of the opening pair. Hille came onto bowl for Mayuran and bowled there number 4 for 11 and we had made a great start.

But then Osterley’s former Hong Kong U19’s international who had come straight off of a late flight (and didn't make it in time to play for Osterley’s 1st team) and preceded to walk down the wicket and smash every other ball for 6 and 4 supported well by there number 3.

Bosworth was dismantled going for 40 off his first 2 overs and then took himself off, not a great start as captain. Dillegh & Sanraj made no headway as the runs continued to leak. Mayuran finally managed to take the international scalp with Ali taking a great catch. Once Bosworth got rid of the number 3 for 96. The last 5 wickets fell for 12 runs, Lucas taking 1 and Sanraj 3. To leave 261 to win off 45 overs.

Osterley 3rd XI 260, Ealing 4th XI need 261 to win

Sanraj and Ali opened the batting and made a solid start but then both fell to the international for 12 and 20 respectively. Nadir then steadied the ship with a really good 31 but no one could stay with him, wickets fell at regular intervals with 6 wickets falling for 11 runs.

Once Nadir fell for 31, Hille and Mayuran came in at 10 and 11 they scored a 38 for the last wicket with the partnership scoring 22 and 16 respectively.

260 was just too much to chase down on the day and we fell to a 113 run defeat falling to 150 all out. But we live on and look forward to getting a first win on the board next week away vs Kenton CC 3rd XI.