Herts and Essex Cricket League Division One

Ilford Catholic suffered defeat in their first league match of the season against Matching Green on Saturday, losing by 35 runs.

Catholic bowled first and got off to a great start, with opening bowler Vince Mulholland reducing Matching to eight for three, including the wicket of Jason Green for nought.

Matching’s Simon Hartnell dug in and anchored the innings with a well-made 63 but good bowling spells from John Rogers and Abbas Saleem kept the runs down and reduced the home side to 135 all out.

In reply, Catholic got off to a solid start, with Sulosan Thiru and Ed Tooth keeping Green and Taylor at bay and took the score to 40 without loss.

Catholic then suffered a flurry of wickets as Mulholland and Saleem fell in two consecutive balls.

Tooth offered some resistance with a half-century (54) and with 50 needed, Catholic were confident of reaching the target.

Another batting collapse however reduced the away side to 100 all out, well short of the required total.

Catholic will be hoping to improve their batting when they host Hockerill this Saturday.

Division Five

Ilford Catholic’s second XI were more successful as they beat Albury by seven wickets at home.

A fantastic six-wicket haul from leg spinner Ravi Ramanuja skittled Albury for just 125. There was also some tight bowling by Anujan Thiru (0 for 15) and Mukhtiar Singh (one for 32).

Albury’s skipper and leading run scorer Keith Wheatley hit an excellent 42 but Ramanuja’s six for 39, including the prize wicket of Wheatley, put Catholic in control.

In reply, Annanth Kumar and debutant Ricki Saha shared a 52-run opening stand.

Kumar’s quick-fire 36 was well-supported by Sandeep Barot (28) and Riches (14 not-out) to put Catholic within sight.

Thaya Sivasuthan then joined Riches and hit a quick 13 not out, including a magnificent six to secure the win.

The second XI will hope to continue their good start to the season when they travel to North Weald next.

Ilford Catholic’s third XI won by the same scoreline in a friendly against Royal Sovereign, claiming victory by seven wickets.

Winning the toss, the Royal Sovereign captain decided to bat first but Catholic struck early, with 13-year-old Louis Morgan and Mayur Bodhake reducing them to seven for three.

Morgan’s spell of two for seven was the highlight of the attack, with great support from Bodhake (two for four) and Neil Patel (two for ten) ensuring Royal Sovereign were eventually all out for 101.

Catholic’s innings got off to a solid start, with skipper Mohammed Zaman (14) and Bodhake (13) playing sensibly.

However it was man-of-the-match Morgan (24 not out) and Rajan Najagaran (28 not out) who led the way, forming a great partnership to take Catholic to a seven-wicket victory with 15 overs in hand.