F&HCC Match Report 09/08/2025
Records Tumble as Fives Stack Up the Runs
What a fabulous weekend of cricket across the board at the club with some staggeringly good performances, batting records broken, outstanding victories for the First and Second XI’s, an epic tied game involving the Fourth XI and the Fives stars of the future in the Under 9 Tigers team reaching the final of the Don Coates softball competition by beating Wanstead.
After their nail-biting triumph at Wanstead the First XI were in action at The Paddock knowing that victory against bottom placed Hadleigh & Thundersley would virtually secure topflight Premier Division cricket for 2026. Ultimately, they were to coast to victory by 9 wickets in their most comprehensive victory of the season but one would have struggled to consider that a realistic prospect based on the initial stages.
The visitors won the toss and decided to have a bat first on what looked to be a very batting friendly track. For once, the most consistent of our disciplines, the bowling, was slightly under par not helped by some distinctly average ground fielding. The period up until the first drinks break was arguably our worst in the field all season. Hadleigh raced along at around 7 an over without a sniff of a breakthrough until Ed Fluck securely held a challenging catch at extra cover to remove Billy Corps for 29 off the bowling of Kaumal with 81 on the board.
Rollinson and Wagstaff continued to tick along towards lunch, but Fives were improving and with it the run rate was gradually decreasing to a more acceptable level with Kaumal and skipper Brad operating in unison. Initial fears of having to confront something around 400 were constantly being revised downwards aided by Brad bowling Rollinson for 38. Nevertheless, Hadleigh looked very well placed as they approached the 200 mark just those two wickets down.
The decisive contribution to curtailing the size of the run chase was the introduction of Viv Hassen. Viv bowls quick, back of the hand leg breaks and is capable of producing some unplayable deliveries. On the cusp of lunch, he removed opposition skipper Sam Handley with a very sharp return catch and then held onto a tracer bullet off the bat of Oliver Smith at extra cover to claim our fourth wicket off the bowling of Brad Copper. The curry over the break tasting all the better for the inroads into the batting but plenty to be done for both sides. The next phase would probably be decisive.
Opener Jack Wagstaff completed his century but looked increasingly fatigued and Viv concluded his fine innings of 115 as he pouched a straightforward return catch off a leading edge. Fives then maintained the pressure through some probing bowling backed up by some good fielding and catching. Viv ran through the tail to claim career best figures of 6-73 with only Soilleux (28) and Rogers (27) providing resistance. A final total of 299 all out in 59.1 overs felt like par at best and significantly less than it may have been given the healthy position the visitors had achieved earlier in the day. Kaumal added two more wickets to take him to 30 for the season to date and second in the Premier Division leading bowlers behind only Ben Waring of Chelmsford. Brad Copper’s economical spell of 12 overs 2-56 also playing an important role in drawing Fives back into the contest.
Ben Yeats and Aryan Gupta strapped on the pads and marched to the middle intent on reducing the total required. In the opening overs they were subjected to a stiff examination by seamers Dobson and Rogers, with the latter in particular looking a very useful young prospect. Only one single was taken in the first 4 overs until Ben began to find the boundary. However, on 15 the 22-year-old opener had a major let off when he drove at Rogers only to edge to second slip where a sharp chance was shelled.
The life given appeared to stiffen the resolve of both openers who began to play and score with increasing confidence. Ten overs into the innings both seamers were replaced but medium pacer Poynter was met by contempt by Yeats who took his initial over for 14 that included a straight maximum into the grounds beyond the Mansion End. That led to an immediate bowling rethink as skipper Handley and overseas Aussie Jack Sinfield operated unbroken for the next 20 overs as spin became Hadleigh’s hope of making a breakthrough.
However, from the cautious start both openers increasingly scored at will. Ben and Aryan looked exceptionally comfortable as the scoring rate steadily increased over and beyond a run a ball. Both utilising the sweep against the off spin of Sinfield and playing the left arm of Handley off the back foot through the covers. Anything loose was clattered to the boundary as Ben brought up his 50 just before tea.
The final post tea session became a blood bath as the Fives batters dominated. Ben brought up his maiden Premier League century and 17th career League ton at exactly a run a ball and then accelerated again before finally being run out failing to run his bat in for a personal career equal best 140.
Not to be outdone, Aryan, who had played beautifully, also repeatedly found the gaps and boundary to reach his first century for the club and third League hundred. Batting on undefeated to the close the wicketkeeper-batsman established a new career best 130 not out. In a day of records, the opening stand of 256 between Ben and Aryan established a new club record stand for any wicket (within the Play Cricket era – circa1999 to 2025) just surpassing the 248 between club legends Terry Ballard and Gary Edwards for the First XI in 2014 against Gidea Park.
Aryan and Viv Hassen knocked off the required runs and 302-1 had been the dominant and resounding Fives answer – all done and dusted in just over 47 overs. A fifth Time format win for Fives placing them up with those challenging for the league title in points and victories achieved in this format. Collectively as a batting unit the side has grown from those early season troubles of repeated 40-3 and 50-4 starts to produce some outstanding batting throughout the entire unit with everyone having made a significant contribution at some point in this upturn in form. I suspect it has been a case of adjusting to the level but also the confidence and reassurance the side has found since Feroze Khushi returned from injury.
This sixth win of the season maintains Fives position of fifth in the table – effectively the best of the rest outside of the big four challenging for the title. It’s been beyond any bodies realistic expectations and will without doubt see Premier League cricket back at The Paddock in 2026. Superb effort from all.
As if Hadleigh and Thundersley CC hadn’t had enough of chasing Fives propelled cricket balls homing in on the boundary our Second XI were facing their counterparts in the reverse fixture to the First XI. On paper this looked a tight game between the home side in third place and Fives who had slipped to fourth in recent weeks. A big Fives response was required and oh my goodness did they deliver!
Fives lost the toss and were invited to bat first and skipper Rohan Qureshi and Terry Ballard were immediately into the fray as bat dominated ball throughout. The destructive and prolific Ballard had smashed 62 in just 38 balls before being first out with 92 on the board. Fellow opener Rohan just kept going and going. Partners at the other end all scored quickly and well with supporting efforts of 30 from Huz Umer, 51 from Pete Kilpatrick, 36 from Nikunj Agarwal and 24* from James McKay but the day belonged to the likable skipper.
Fives were well passed the 300 mark when Rohan finally fell for a career best total of 161 from 147 balls. His innings is the highest at the club this season and the 6th best individual score for any XI at the club in the Play Cricket era. At the conclusion of the 50 overs Fives had totalled an incredible 388-5 with Rohan alone contributing 27 boundaries and 2 maximums.
Any remote thoughts of an attempt to chase the mammoth total disappeared before a run had been added with Akbar Khan and Owen Humphrey removing both openers for ducks. The only remaining question was whether Fives could force the win and to that end they were indebted to Mohammed Adams who claimed 5-75 supported by a wicket apiece for Huz Umer and Terry Ballard. The Hadleigh response ended in the 39th over as they could only make 198 leaving another colossal margin of victory (190 runs for those looking for a calculator).
With news that league leaders Colchester had faltered, the 25 points gained from batting first and winning has Fives back up to third and hot on their heels with an exciting run in in prospect for this side.
Afraid to say the Third XI got a bit of a walloping of their own hosting South Woodford. Batting first Fives used all their 50 overs to reach 234-9 with number 9 batter Sumair Sidhu hitting an outstanding 63 after Abhijit Pawar struck 34 and Rajat Parolia 29. Syed Ayain provided late support to Sumair with a resilient 24 not out.
Sadly, the Fives total was found not to be competitive as the visitors raced to the win in less than 29 overs for the loss of just 2 wickets (achieved by Abhijit Pawar and Zorawar Sidhu). Defeat leaves the Third XI in relegation trouble as we enter the closing stages of the season.
The game of the day had to be the incredible Fourth XI fixture away at Gidea Park. Fives won the toss and elected to bat first and the experienced Gary Edwards continued his fine season adding 83 more runs to his campaign aggregate. Nikhail Patel (43) and M Rashid Hussain (41) provided some handy support as we reached a very challenging 266 all out in 40 overs.
Fives made a superb start with the ball as Zahid Gul broke through to claim 3 wickets and Hari Sanker a double. Lovell and Rawlings then made a game changing partnership for Gidea Park that was only broken as the match approached its conclusion. With one over left the home side needed 6 to win with the last pair at the wicket. Fives threw the ball to the experienced Ben Britton who used all his knowhow and ability to limit the scoring to just 4 off the first 5 balls. Two required for GPCC off the final ball Ben set an in/out field. The ball was struck to deep mid-wicket and fielded by Ismail who attempted to throw down the stumps at the bowlers end with Ben doing well to field the ball and prevent match losing overthrows and running out the batsman as they attempted the second run. A remarkable tied match leaving both sides with 16 points for their efforts.
This points haul was sufficient to lift the Fours out of the relegation zone a well-deserved reward for their efforts.
Finally, these reports are focused on the adult section as it’s simply impossible to do justice to all the Colts action as well as maintain a job and a marriage. However, on Sunday our Under 9 side ‘The Tigers’ achieved an outstanding win in the Don Coates softball competition. Expertly led by KD Bhachu, in a gripping semifinal at The Paddock, they overcame Wanstead by 7 runs. The side now play the winners of Woodford Wells and South Woodford fixture in the final at Old Parkonians on Sunday 7th September. Supporters are very welcome to hopefully see the stars of the future lift the trophy.