Clapton give Camel the hump in league clash

There were only two games in the North East London Cricket League last weekend, but that didn’t stop Clapton and Oval giving Camel the hump with a five-wicket victory.

In blustery and cold conditions on the North Marsh, Clapton won the toss and elected to field, sending the Camel in on a green pitch.

Opening bowlers Ismail Matvad and Jim O’Reilly stuck to their plans, maintaining a tight line on and around the off stump and were rewarded with a couple of early breakthroughs.

Matt Hoslin kept the scoreboard ticking over but, with wickets falling around him, he was left with little choice but to hit out, playing some lovely straight drives before falling to a sharp stumping on 90, off the bowling of David Price.

Chris Aliano was the pick of the Clapton bowlers with 4-35, as the Camel were eventually bowled out for 162.

In reply, Clapton’s openers Kaspar Pedersen (18) and Nick Kelly (19) started confidently, putting on 42 for the first wicket.

Andrew Miller brought Camel back into the game with a double breakthrough but more runs were difficult to come by due to some tight bowling and tidy fielding.

However, Adarsh Chharbria batted responsibly for an unbeaten 39, and, with support from Kerry Tyrrell (20) and Abdul Munim, saw the home side over the line with five overs and five wickets remaining.

Tower Hamlets beat Baring Up CC by 100 runs at Millfields, thanks to a century from Shakil Ahmed.

Ahmed’s 137 was the major contribution in their total of 273 all out after 40 overs, and in reply Baring struggled with Hamlet’s tight bowling.

Captain Mitchell Greenham top scored with 32 as Baring were bowled out for 173.