SOUTHGATE 3s
181 ALL OUT, 43.5 OVERS
KANNAN BALACHANDRAN 66 NOT OUT, GEORGE BLOYCE 49

NORTH LONDON 5s
166 ALL OUT 42.5 OVERS
PARINDA KULARATNE 4-44, JASON SAGAR 2-29

SOUTHGATE WON BY 15 RUNS

The 3s secured the club’s first league victory of the season with a hard fought 15 run defeat of North London 5s on the back ground on Saturday.

Our oppo had conceded their first two games so we weren’t too sure what to expect but like us, they were a mixture of youth and experience (exactly as 3rd Tier cricket should be). NL won the toss and asked us to bat on a pitch that had seen plenty of use and offered immediate assistance to their opening medium pacers. We lost 3 quick wickets but Jez and Kannan steadied the ship before the Chairman departed LBW. 43-3 soon became 82-7 but George Bloyce joined Kannan and they added 74 precious runs for the 8th wicket. George fell one short of a much deserved half century but Kannan remained undefeated for an excellent 66 to see us to a total of 181 all out in 43.5 overs.

This was a very defendable score, particularly with the pitch still offering the bowlers plenty and Parinda took 3 early wickets to reduce NL to 47 for 3. At 117-7 we felt we were in control but some wayward bowling and a few lapses in the field allowed their lower middle order to stage a mini fightback. The introduction of Jason Sagar (2-29 off 11 overs) was crucial and his control, along with Parinda returning to pick up his 4th wicket and a run out, left George to finish things off, deservedly picking up the 10th wicket, with the second LBW of the day that probably wouldn’t have survived a DRS review.

A 15 run win. 10 points. A good team effort with lots of positives.

Jez