The season races on, and we continue to be competitive across the sides, with more than our share of thrilling finishes this weekend.

On Saturday the 1s got an important 12-point win against West Harrow. We made 112 on a difficult surface and very slow outfield. But we got early wickets, and thanks to Saqlain Shaikh’s 4-30 we got them out for 100, and stay second. Next week sees the crunch match against top-of-the-table London Tigers.

The 2s also won a thriller batting first in tricky weather conditions. Bhavic Tukrel’s rapid 58 from no.10 saw us from 108-9 to 160. Leith Cowie took 5-53 and a last wicket stand of 30 got them close but they were 7 short. We are 3rd, just 3 points off second.

The 3s lost by 5 wickets to Harrow Town but in a tight league we are 5th – but only 11 points off top! And next weekend we play top (Richmond) in what is a really crunch game. The 4s got a good win against Ealing Trailfinders, to stay 4th. We bowled them out for 121 (Dusty Dyson 4 wickets) and got it for 5, thanks to an anchoring and jug-avoiding innings by Henry Somper, with 48*.

The 5s and 6s had a bad day against Wycombe House. The 5s lost to their 4s, as they chased down our 131 with 4 wickets to spare. Our 6s lost to their 5s in a bottom-of-the-table scrap.

On Sunday the MDL team bowled out Harrow for 111 and got them easily. The Women had a tough game at Stoke Newington and came off second best. The Sunday friendly side played the Serbian Sloggers at Chiswick House and it was the closest finish of the lot. We made 164 – 50 to Miles Dyson and 72 to Sam Hall. The chase was always in the balance – and with 2 needed Will Clarke picked up the last wicket. Well played all!

On Thursday the T20 side got back to winning ways against Actonians. We piled up 209 (Jarvis Eyre 59, Alex KP 62) and we bowled them out for 153. On Friday the U19s lost narrowly to Barnes. On Thursday the U11s lost their last game, and the last U15s game was abandoned mid-game after that biblical downpour.

Lastly a request for help: the women are hosting a softball tournament at HQ next Sunday, with Chiswick, Shepherd’s Bush, Stanmore and Kew playing. It will be a 1.30pm start a Leonora and the ladies need one more umpire and two scorers. If anyone can help, please do contact Leonora on leonorayorath@gmail.com – it should be a great day, and a great way for people to help our fastest developing section.

Bernard