Bumper Bank Holiday of cricket for Brentham

There was a bumper Bank Holiday of Cricket with Brentham CC involved in six matches across the three-day weekend.

On Saturday, a triple-header against Eastcote saw defeats for the 1s and 2s while Jaidev Pindoria’s (main picture) masterful 141 saw the 3s cruise to an eight-wicket win. There was another century to celebrate on Sunday as Pravin Jadhav’s 101 was the backbone of The Trees’ winning total of 260 against Kensington and Chelsea at the Brentham Club. Monday’s action saw Brentham bow out of the Middlesex T20 to Barnes while the Club XI were beaten by Harefield.

Saturday’s 1s game at home to Eastcote couldn’t have started worse for The Trees with last weekend’s two centurions, Thirath Goane and Aadil Khan, both dismissed before the score reached double figures. Saad Rehman and Zaraq Nazir (30) steadied the ship, Saad going on to top score with 69, before a captain’s knock of 57 off 52 from Prav Jadhav took The Trees a shade past 200 at Meadvale Road.

Zaraq (2-24) continued his fine day with two early wickets to leave Eastcote 30-2 in reply. A good partnership then took Eastcote close to 100 before last season’s Player of the Year, Usman Maqbool (2-17), removed the set opener. That triggered a mini collapse which left Eastcote 136-5, still 66 short of victory. However, their sixth-wicket partnership took control and saw them home with 10 balls to spare.

At Hayden Hall, the 2s had Eastcote on the ropes at 70-7 as Derrick Roper (front row, second right below) (2), Matt Bunker Jnr (2) and Vish Patel (3) ripped out the top order before the home side recovered to post 142, thanks to a 52-run eighth wicket partnership. In reply, all seemed to be going well at 52-1, the opening pair of Harpeet Singh (34) and James Hitchcock (24) setting a solid foundation, but no other batsman got into double figures as The Trees were skittled out for 102.

If runs proved hard to come by on the main pitch in Pinner, nearly 500 of them were scored on the back pitch. Eastcote started slowly but accelerated towards the end to post what looked a highly competitive 242 from their 40 overs. However, that total was made to look like child’s play as Jaidev (below) hit his maiden hundred to chase it down inside 29 overs. Alongside Adbul Shukkoor (57*), the pair put on 218 for the first wicket, Jaidev finally caught for 141 off 82 balls, 112 of which came in boundaries.

It was another high-scoring affair on Sunday as Prav hit 101 to guide Brentham to 260 off 35 overs against Kensington and Chelsea at the Brentham Club. Preet Patel also hit 43 at better than a run-a-ball as The Trees went at just shy of eight-an-over through their innings. The visitors’ reply was held together by 101 off 76 balls from their opener. Striking to all parts of Meadvale Road, The Trees kept chipping away at the other end through Jaidev (2-37), Atif Shah (2-53), and Immy Raza (2-4) as Kensington and Chelsea fell 60 short.

On Monday, Brentham’s interest in the Middlesex T20 ended at the first hurdle following an eight-wicket defeat to Barnes at Acton CC. A total of 126-9 off 20 overs, held together by Preet’s 41 off 39, never really looked like it would be enough despite Faizullah Khan striking with the second ball of the reply. Barnes did fall to 36-2, when their other opener departed for 30 off 10, but they kept up the onslaught to pass 126 two balls into the 13th over.

Our other Monday fixture also ended in defeat, a Club XI losing by 97 runs away at Harefield. The home side batted first and reached 133 without loss at the midway point. Chris Jones (2-61), Pratyesh Desai (3-42), and Badar Nadeem (2-14) then put the skids on their innings which closed on 247-9 off 40. PD (35) and Jack Ellis (42) offered resistance in reply but, with no other batsman passing 19, The Trees were bowled out for 150 with nine overs to spare.

All four Saturday sides begin their MCCL campaigns this weekend. The 1s are at home to Indian Gymkhana while the 2s travel to the same opponents. The 3s host SKLP CC at William Perkin and the 4s are at Harrow St Mary’s, all games start at 12.30pm. On Sunday, there’s a Club XI fixture at home to Nepotists CC.