Bowlers star in league and cup wins

After the first weekend washout, it was the bowler's turn to take centre-stage for Brentham.

The weather still had one card to play with Tomek Tsang yet to take to the field as 1s captain following the postponement of their trip to Highgate due to a wet outfield.

All the other sides on Saturday and Sunday did get their games in, with James Hitchcock's 3s making a fast start to life in Division Three away at Southgate.

Bowling first on a helpful wicket, Ciaran Brett (2-17) and Ayaz Khan (1-11) reduced the hosts to 11-3 early on. Some obdurate batting blunted the Brentham attack but the introduction of spin in the shape of Aaron Bolger and John Clapham turned the game back in Brentham's favour.

Aaron (3-34) removed both set bats while JC (2-24) kept things tight as the home side limped to 102-9 off their full 45 overs.

Brentham's openers, Jaidev Pindoria (15) and JC (22) progressed serenely to 52 before Jaidev fell. Three wickets were then lost for eight runs to leave The Trees 80-4 but Vice-Captain Matt Plews (26*) and Lucas Smith (11*) knocked off the remaining runs with little alarm to record a six-wicket win.

The 4s were on the wrong end of a nailbiting finish at William Perkin, falling three short in reply to SKLPC CC's 172.

Similar to the 3s, Brentham made light work of the top order, Mohsin Hassan (3-21) removing three of the top four for 0,0, and 1. However, SKLPC rallied to reach 90-5 before getting up to their final score of 172 - Aditya Patel (3-15), and Vinay Khetia (2-23) grabbing the late wickets.

Four of Brentham's top five got into double figures, Yogesh Solanki top scoring with 45, as the 4s reached 131-5 with 13 overs to go in reply. Hemen Mehta and Imran Raza then got the equation down to 11 off three overs, and with two wickets in hand, but couldn't get the side over the line as they were all out for 169.

Life in the second tier for the 2s began with a five-wicket defeat at home to Highgate.

Saad Rehman's side were always playing catch up after losing their top-four cheaply. Contributions down the order from Pravin Jadhav (20), Ashfaq Ahmed (14), and Vish Patel (25) did at least take the score past 100 and gave the bowlers something to defend.

Atif Shah (3-34) and Yogesh Prabhu (1-16) made early inroads but Highgate were always in control, reaching their target five down with 21 overs to spare.

On Sunday, an inspired spell from Faizullah Khan saw the 1s defend 98 at Enfield in the first round of the Middlesex Trophy.

Only Meet Goswami (22) and Hamza Khan (18) reached double-figures as Brentham were bundled out for under 100 in less than 34 overs.

At 59-2 in reply, there looked to be only one winner but Faiz (5-22) ran through the middle order as Enfield lost 6-7. Helped by two run-outs and Atif Shah's 2-20, the home side ended up falling 16 short, losing their last eight wickets for 23.

There were a few more runs for the friendly XI on Sunday, their 206-9 off 40 overs proving three too many for Shepherd's Bush.

Contributions all through the innings from Ned Watts (20), Jayraj Jadeja (22), Lucas Smith (39), Yogi Solanki (28), and Mohsin Hassan (33) got Brentham up past 200 at The Bush.

The hosts' reply was going swimmingly at 117-1 off 20 overs but Yogi (2-38) and Hemen Mehta (3-30) put the skids on the innings, enabling Brentham to get home by three runs.

With the weather set fair, there should be a full weekend of cricket ahead of The Trees:

Saturday

1s - Wembley (H) - 12.30 start

2s - Richmond (A) - 12.30 start

3s - Harrow Town (H) - 12.30 start

4s - Kensington and Chelsea (A) - 12.30 start

5s - Highgate (A) - 1pm start

Sunday

Chess Valley - UCS Gowers (A) - 1pm start