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.
Sadly I think it's going to be one of those days today. A couple of team's that might not be too disappointed for their game to be abandoned - Whitstable as they are going to be facing Laurie Evans, fresh from smashing 63 off 26 for Surrey against Kent and then there's bottom of the PL, Holmesdale, off to St Lawrence & HC with their newly acquired overseas, former Windies quick, Shermon Lewis, who on his Test debut took the wickets of Pujara and someone called Kohli.
Sadly I think it's going to be one of those days today. A couple of team's that might not be too disappointed for their game to be abandoned - Whitstable as they are going to be facing Laurie Evans, fresh from smashing 63 off 26 for Surrey against Kent and then there's bottom of the PL, Holmesdale, off to St Lawrence & HC with their newly acquired overseas, former Windies quick, Shermon Lewis, who on his Test debut took the wickets of Pujara and someone called Kohli.
I did the Holmesdale game but sadly Shermon, who said it was the coldest game he'd ever played in, didn't get to bowl...he did get to smote a few in the end overs of the St Lawrence innings, the highlight of which was 90 from Dan Stickels. Match incomplete.
We only had 9 players today lost the toss and were all out for 38 ffs in 19 overs … 25 scored by one player !! I came in at 5 and against all my instincts tried to block out and got a 14 ball duck (I’ve never had 10 dots before on the spin) before another one popped on our evil wicket , well when we bat ! They knocked the runs off in just over 6 overs genuinely pathetic
Damien Magin took 9-34 today for Bickley 2s against Old Wilsonians today. The only wicket that he didn't take was caught by his brother, Daniel. "No hard feelings bro".
Not quite club cricket but i recently heard about cricket for over 50s akin to Charlton Community Trusts popular Walking football. Kent CC have a few venues in (of all places Kent) and are planning to open one in Greenwich. Like WF* it's a version where players walk not run and for all levels. If any one is interested I can post the email of the person running it for KCC.
*Not that The Tuesday sessions at 10.30 at Goals Eltham stick to walking!!
Walking Cricket is great ..play it twice a week at Bexhill..oldest player we have is 82 ..heard that Kent are getting involved which is good as that might mean more opposition
It appears that Kent now have walking cricket up and running in Greewich area with debut activity yesterday.
Since I originally posted I've been playing in Wallington and despite its closeness I may not switch to Kent, however if anyone is interested this is the flyer as posted on the Charlton Community Trust Walking Cricket WhatsApp
Bickley Park arrived at Broadstairs with every intention of batting should they win the toss. That is what all the stats said after all. Put 200 on the board and strangle. Then the players looked at the pitch. Sodden. The covers had blown off and the overnight storms had done their work. An about turn and having won that toss, Bickley's skipper duly elected to make the right decision to bowl.
Although there were no initial inroads, Broadstairs found themselves 66-4 on a pitch that had plenty to offer the bowlers. At that point Bickley were hoping to restrict the oppo to 120, maybe 150 max. A combination of too many "4 balls", a lack of energy in the field and a magnificent 98 from the home side's George Kidd said otherwise and Broadstairs close on 221. A not insurmountable chase but certainly one where the Bickley batters would need to apply themselves. Unfortunately they simply didn't. Soft dismissal after soft dismissal and Bickley crawled to 130 all out with more than 17 overs still to go.
So Bickley lost by 91 runs. A lesson that you might be one of the best sides in the division but you can't just turn up and expect to win. Here's hoping it's one they'll learn from especially as it's history repeating itself - two seasons ago they also won their first for games but then suffered an even worse defeat to bottom placed OD CUACO. Bickley duly went to gain promotion to the PL following that but they will have to turn up for each and every game this season if they want to do that because the likes of the Vine and Whitstable will have a big say come the end of the season.
Lolwray has been prevented from playing so far this season by a trapped femoral nerve. However I spent yesterday doing a tour of metropolitan London in support of Catford and cyphers various sides. Who should I come across but @mid_life_crisis who was making a rare appearance for ODCuaco.Now me and him go back a very long way. Very fond memories of his father ,Kevin Fox umpiring when David was literally knee-high to a set of stumps. Lovely to see you yesterday David 👍
We won the toss and with impossibly a full 11 even weaker than our really shit team of 9 last week we elected to field . Old Chelmsfordians 3rds ticked over nicely till the opener skied one to me at a deep ish mid off well I was mid on by the time I caught it cos mid on had no interest in catching it , in the 17th over . they cruised along until I was brought on in the 31st over and took 4 for 30 odd in 8 overs and had two dropped late on , so missed out on my first 5 for since my 10 years out cos of kids but oppo had 224-6 more than enough for our shit side and oppo were pony as well ffs we got to 161 all out including my disastrous leave of a pony spinner who I’d just licked for all of my 4 runs , it pitched outside off and it turned back 4-5 inches utterly pathetic by me …..then we had 3 run outs from our space cadets on the spin !! we slip to 3rd bottom
our ones bowled Tillingham ones out for 92 (they were 51-1) with the pick of our bowlers bowling 7 overs and getting 3-3. Thats as good as it got as we were skittled for 56 !
Father’s Day today and I’m playing with boffin and skipper asked what I want to do today and I said bat cos I’m losing all faith in my ability to know how to bat . i need a 20 minimum which is a 50 on a normal wicket our track has been horrific last season and a bit but that’s park cricket on a flood plain for you !
@Pedro45 I think it was you standing for the abandonment today? What happened?
Yea, I got a call from Sandwich at 8.45 saying the pitch was flooded, and what was the protocol. So I explained what they had to do and just under an hour later the captains had agreed to call it off. We were sent photos, and the strip was very damp, and the outfield near the pavilion had huge puddles on it. Yes, we could have sat around (it was a lovely day down there by all accounts) until 4pm and maybe got a 20 over game, but the skippers decided otherwise.
I then watched top of the table Chislehurst & West Kent bowling against Cowdrey in division 3, before heading over to Bromley to watch them capitulate against Holmesdale in the Premier division. I got back to Chisles just after they had completed their win to go even further clear at the top.
@Pedro45 I think it was you standing for the abandonment today? What happened?
Yea, I got a call from Sandwich at 8.45 saying the pitch was flooded, and what was the protocol. So I explained what they had to do and just under an hour later the captains had agreed to call it off. We were sent photos, and the strip was very damp, and the outfield near the pavilion had huge puddles on it. Yes, we could have sat around (it was a lovely day down there by all accounts) until 4pm and maybe got a 20 over game, but the skippers decided otherwise.
I then watched top of the table Chislehurst & West Kent bowling against Cowdrey in division 3, before heading over to Bromley to watch them capitulate against Holmesdale in the Premier division. I got back to Chisles just after they had completed their win to go even further clear at the top.
The PL this year really is a hard one to call for both champion and relegation. Holmesdale looked down and out until yesterday but are only 2 points behind last season's champions, Blackheath and 10 points behind 7th placed Bexley. At the other end of the table, just 12 points separate the top 6.
Lolwray has been prevented from playing so far this season by a trapped femoral nerve. However I spent yesterday doing a tour of metropolitan London in support of Catford and cyphers various sides. Who should I come across but @mid_life_crisis who was making a rare appearance for ODCuaco.Now me and him go back a very long way. Very fond memories of his father ,Kevin Fox umpiring when David was literally knee-high to a set of stamps. Lovely to see you yesterday David 👍
Absolute pleasure to see both you and Richard. Decent finish in the end, we got home by 10 runs. All the best Laurie, and I hope the trapped nerve improves so you can get back on the field at some stage. 🤞
Holmesdale are the weirdest fucking club. 1s in the Prem. 2s thrashed our 1s yesterday. 3s lost comfortably to our...4s
Well, they had a load of colts eye up the fat pie chucker (me), without realising that I am in fact "wily" or "crafty" as opposed to "useless", and just slog-swept the air while I bowled them...
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.
They knocked the runs off in just over 6 overs
genuinely pathetic
Since I originally posted I've been playing in Wallington and despite its closeness I may not switch to Kent, however if anyone is interested this is the flyer as posted on the Charlton Community Trust Walking Cricket WhatsApp
Although there were no initial inroads, Broadstairs found themselves 66-4 on a pitch that had plenty to offer the bowlers. At that point Bickley were hoping to restrict the oppo to 120, maybe 150 max. A combination of too many "4 balls", a lack of energy in the field and a magnificent 98 from the home side's George Kidd said otherwise and Broadstairs close on 221. A not insurmountable chase but certainly one where the Bickley batters would need to apply themselves. Unfortunately they simply didn't. Soft dismissal after soft dismissal and Bickley crawled to 130 all out with more than 17 overs still to go.
So Bickley lost by 91 runs. A lesson that you might be one of the best sides in the division but you can't just turn up and expect to win. Here's hoping it's one they'll learn from especially as it's history repeating itself - two seasons ago they also won their first for games but then suffered an even worse defeat to bottom placed OD CUACO. Bickley duly went to gain promotion to the PL following that but they will have to turn up for each and every game this season if they want to do that because the likes of the Vine and Whitstable will have a big say come the end of the season.
Old Chelmsfordians 3rds ticked over nicely till the opener skied one to me at a deep ish mid off well I was mid on by the time I caught it cos mid on had no interest in catching it , in the 17th over .
they cruised along until I was brought on in the 31st over and took 4 for 30 odd in 8 overs and had two dropped late on , so missed out on my first 5 for since my 10 years out cos of kids but oppo had 224-6 more than enough for our shit side and oppo were pony as well ffs
we got to 161 all out including my disastrous leave of a pony spinner who I’d just licked for all of my 4 runs , it pitched outside off and it turned back 4-5 inches utterly pathetic by me …..then we had 3 run outs from our space cadets on the spin !!
we slip to 3rd bottom
our ones bowled Tillingham ones out for 92 (they were 51-1) with the pick of our bowlers bowling 7 overs and getting 3-3.
Thats as good as it got as we were skittled for 56 !
Father’s Day today and I’m playing with boffin and skipper asked what I want to do today and I said bat cos I’m losing all faith in my ability to know how to bat .
i need a 20 minimum which is a 50 on a normal wicket our track has been horrific last season and a bit but that’s park cricket on a flood plain for you !
I then watched top of the table Chislehurst & West Kent bowling against Cowdrey in division 3, before heading over to Bromley to watch them capitulate against Holmesdale in the Premier division. I got back to Chisles just after they had completed their win to go even further clear at the top.
Decent finish in the end, we got home by 10 runs.
All the best Laurie, and I hope the trapped nerve improves so you can get back on the field at some stage. 🤞
https://wheathampstead.play-cricket.com/website/results/7121764