There's a chap that plays for GN GC GRFC (used to be called Gravesend Rugby Football Club CC) in the Kent League called Mihir Agarwal. Now given that this is his first year on Play Cricket it is probably safe to assume that he is an overseas recruit. He could well also be the same person that goes by the same name that recently played in the Big Cricket League in India with the likes of Phil Mustard, Suresh Raina, Peter Trego, Stuart Binny etc etc
Anyway, Mihir's first game was for GN GC GCRFC's 2nd XI in Division XI Knott of the Kent League (the joint 22nd tier) and he scored 205* out of 345-1 (40). Now, presumably either this wasn't recognised as a meaningful enough performance to be promoted to the first team or, more likely, that side already has an overseas. The following week he managed just 155* out of a total of 309-3 (40). Still no promotion and 104* out of 170-1 (23) followed in WK 3. That form finally proved to be too good to ignore and finally on Saturday he made his 1st XI debut in Div 4 (the 6th tier) and his contribution was 127* out of 237-8 (50).
So Mihir now has 591 Kent League runs but no average and almost double the number of the person in second place out of well over a thousand cricketers that have played this season. The question is, of course this - will he get to keep his place in the first team?
Mihir Agarwal didn't just play for GNG GC GRFC 1s but he skippered them to victory by the small matter of 284 runs against Lordswood 2s. On a personal level, a relative disaster for him - out for 39. At least he has an average now though - 630
There's a chap that plays for GN GC GRFC (used to be called Gravesend Rugby Football Club CC) in the Kent League called Mihir Agarwal. Now given that this is his first year on Play Cricket it is probably safe to assume that he is an overseas recruit. He could well also be the same person that goes by the same name that recently played in the Big Cricket League in India with the likes of Phil Mustard, Suresh Raina, Peter Trego, Stuart Binny etc etc
Anyway, Mihir's first game was for GN GC GCRFC's 2nd XI in Division XI Knott of the Kent League (the joint 22nd tier) and he scored 205* out of 345-1 (40). Now, presumably either this wasn't recognised as a meaningful enough performance to be promoted to the first team or, more likely, that side already has an overseas. The following week he managed just 155* out of a total of 309-3 (40). Still no promotion and 104* out of 170-1 (23) followed in WK 3. That form finally proved to be too good to ignore and finally on Saturday he made his 1st XI debut in Div 4 (the 6th tier) and his contribution was 127* out of 237-8 (50).
So Mihir now has 591 Kent League runs but no average and almost double the number of the person in second place out of well over a thousand cricketers that have played this season. The question is, of course this - will he get to keep his place in the first team?
Mihir Agarwal didn't just play for GNG GC GRFC 1s but he skippered them to victory by the small matter of 284 runs against Lordswood 2s. On a personal level, a relative disaster for him - out for 39. At least he has an average now though - 630
I hear he played in the Sevenoaks Smash last midweek, and was not out then too!
I stood in a good game yesterday at Bromley. Sandwich Town fell to 17-2, but recovered well and with the help of 130-odd runs off the last ten, reached 299-6. Rory Smith was the star with his first KCL Premier League ton, ably supported by brother Alex (50+).
Bromley lost an early wicket but chugged along nicely, with Fred Wilson getting 50 and youngster Aditya Kumar getting an excellent well batted ton. That set up a close finish, which Sandwich tried to control, while slowly getting wickets. A few times they thought they'd won it, but then a loose ball and/or boundary would swing the game back in Bromley's favour.
It came down to the last over with six needed. A dot off the first ball, then a single, then a run out coming back for a second heightened tensions. With two balls left, an inside edge went for four and Bromley had won. I believe that's three consecutive close game losses for Sandwich.
Despite its closeness, the spirit and friendship shown between the two teams was exemplary.
Worst game ever by me , dropped one over the boundary trying to do an IPL jump and push back to another fielder(you’re 54 not 14 you twat) 🤦♂️ went through my fingers . I’d scored a pathetic 3 batting at 6 as we got to 180 all out with 7 balls left of our 45 overs , with a small boundary and lightning outfield and against top of the table Basildon and pitsea 3s , we had no chance . then I was brought on and bowled against a fella who should be playing higher than div 7 mid Essex cricket league and I helped him get to a 65 ball 115 …. the bowling figures aren’t out but I reckon I bowled 3.2 overs for 45-50 runs utter shit, my Yorkers , slower balls and slingy arm balls all were shit full tosses dutifully dispatched , with the odd decent ball beating the bat and inside edge they got to the target 3 down in the 26th over .
our ones in a first v second clash against top of the table Basildon and pitsea ones were reduced to 57/7 and the oppo had a couple of players who had played some first class cricket for Guyana and St Lucia with Leonard bowling 9 overs for just 6 runs and taking 2 wickets . We managed to scramble to 135/9 in 45 overs with boffin getting 21 (44) batting at nine , he has patience and a brain unlike me. our wicket is evil it’s flooded every winter and last few years is getting worse but still didn’t expect the capitulation from top of the table who were skittled for 88 ! But due to the points system our ones stayed second by 1 point because third placed got 26 points compared to our 22 , I said our ones would go down having got promoted to prem in 3rd due to a team being kicked out of the league 😀
Having won the toss, Bickley elected to bat and amassed 262-6 courtesy, mainly from a second wicket partnership between Ranjit Singh (81) and Saf Imitiaz (55) of 131. That was felt to be about par though, perhaps, it might have been 15-20 more given there wasn't any noticeable acceleration with wickets falling, as they tend to, at exactly the wrong time. Special mention to Canterbury's Cameron Wilshaw, who is still at school, for his controlled spell of left arm spin in returning figures of 10-1-24-1.
Canterbury set off as if they meant business with the score of 30-0 after just 4 overs. At the half way stage they were more than half way to reach their target at 134-2 and Bickley were definitely on the back foot. Over by over Bickley clawed themselves back into the game until they managed to take the final wicket with 14 balls to go to win by 24 runs.
I would say that the major difference between the two sides was age. Apart from two or three older heads, including their Queensland overseas, Bryce Street, Canterbury are a very young side with probably eight of their team under 21. If they can keep that group together then they could become a real force in seasons to come.
As for Bickley, that's four wins from four. It's going to be, however, a long season especially with a small club squad and the inevitable effect that missing key players is going to have in weeks to come. Still, the 2s are unbeaten too and that bodes well even if there is a seven division gap between the too sides. That is where the likes of Bexley and Tunbridge Wells excel - one because they have more players anyway but also because there is only a two division step up for their players from the 2s to the 1s.
Comments
Mihir Agarwal didn't just play for GNG GC GRFC 1s but he skippered them to victory by the small matter of 284 runs against Lordswood 2s. On a personal level, a relative disaster for him - out for 39. At least he has an average now though - 630
Bromley lost an early wicket but chugged along nicely, with Fred Wilson getting 50 and youngster Aditya Kumar getting an excellent well batted ton. That set up a close finish, which Sandwich tried to control, while slowly getting wickets. A few times they thought they'd won it, but then a loose ball and/or boundary would swing the game back in Bromley's favour.
It came down to the last over with six needed. A dot off the first ball, then a single, then a run out coming back for a second heightened tensions. With two balls left, an inside edge went for four and Bromley had won. I believe that's three consecutive close game losses for Sandwich.
Despite its closeness, the spirit and friendship shown between the two teams was exemplary.
I’d scored a pathetic 3 batting at 6 as we got to 180 all out with 7 balls left of our 45 overs , with a small boundary and lightning outfield and against top of the table Basildon and pitsea 3s , we had no chance .
then I was brought on and bowled against a fella who should be playing higher than div 7 mid Essex cricket league and I helped him get to a 65 ball 115 ….
the bowling figures aren’t out but I reckon I bowled 3.2 overs for 45-50 runs utter shit, my Yorkers , slower balls and slingy arm balls all were shit full tosses dutifully dispatched , with the odd decent ball beating the bat and inside edge
they got to the target 3 down in the 26th over .
our ones in a first v second clash against top of the table Basildon and pitsea ones were reduced to 57/7 and the oppo had a couple of players who had played some first class cricket for Guyana and St Lucia with Leonard bowling 9 overs for just 6 runs and taking 2 wickets .
We managed to scramble to 135/9 in 45 overs with boffin getting 21 (44) batting at nine , he has patience and a brain unlike me.
our wicket is evil it’s flooded every winter and last few years is getting worse but still didn’t expect the capitulation from top of the table who were skittled for 88 ! But due to the points system our ones stayed second by 1 point because third placed got 26 points compared to our 22 , I said our ones would go down having got promoted to prem in 3rd due to a team being kicked out of the league 😀
Having won the toss, Bickley elected to bat and amassed 262-6 courtesy, mainly from a second wicket partnership between Ranjit Singh (81) and Saf Imitiaz (55) of 131. That was felt to be about par though, perhaps, it might have been 15-20 more given there wasn't any noticeable acceleration with wickets falling, as they tend to, at exactly the wrong time. Special mention to Canterbury's Cameron Wilshaw, who is still at school, for his controlled spell of left arm spin in returning figures of 10-1-24-1.
Canterbury set off as if they meant business with the score of 30-0 after just 4 overs. At the half way stage they were more than half way to reach their target at 134-2 and Bickley were definitely on the back foot. Over by over Bickley clawed themselves back into the game until they managed to take the final wicket with 14 balls to go to win by 24 runs.
I would say that the major difference between the two sides was age. Apart from two or three older heads, including their Queensland overseas, Bryce Street, Canterbury are a very young side with probably eight of their team under 21. If they can keep that group together then they could become a real force in seasons to come.
As for Bickley, that's four wins from four. It's going to be, however, a long season especially with a small club squad and the inevitable effect that missing key players is going to have in weeks to come. Still, the 2s are unbeaten too and that bodes well even if there is a seven division gap between the too sides. That is where the likes of Bexley and Tunbridge Wells excel - one because they have more players anyway but also because there is only a two division step up for their players from the 2s to the 1s.