Champions GB Strikers made the perfect start to the defence of their North East London League title with a comfortable four-wicket victory over Coach & Horses.

On a torrid track at Hackney Marshes, Coach were put into bat, with Gajia and Mulla motoring through the top order before a great partnership between Will Povey (33) and John Turner (40) brought them back into the game.

But excellent bowling restricted them to 152 all out at the turnaround, with Strikers’ opening pair Naim Budi and Ammar Malji putting in a reasonable partnership in reply.

Coach bounced back and the wickets started tumbling, but Zubair Ghardiwala (52 not out) came to the crease and joined Zackaria Budi (39) to build a fantastic partnership that saw GB Strikers gallop to victory.

After finishing rock bottom in 2015, Williff Robinson’s century inspired the Camel to an early season victory by nine wickets over Daman.

Both Kit Caleless (3-31) and Richard Hagan (2-19) produced potent opening spells, reducing Daman to 70-9. But the last-wicket pair put up brave resistance against an increasingly frustrated Camel bowling unit to reach a total of 141.

The Camel began their innings in a disastrous manner with Tom Porter being bowled cheaply before Guy Shennan (20no) came to the crease and steadied the ship alongside the imperious Robinson.

Daman had no answers to the cultured left-hander, who stroked the ball to every corner of Springfield Park in a masterclass that included 13 fours and two sixes, before Cyrus Mehta hit the winning runs.

London Fields beat Clapton & Oval by 132 runs after Robin Friend (100) and Vijay (49) had put on 90 in 10 overs. A combination of precision shots and calamitous fielding from Clapton allowed London Fields to post 245.

In reply, the hosts struggled to gain momentum with Sanders expertly taking the new ball and ripping through the top order. A combination of swing, loop, late dip and cutters proved unplayable as he finished with incredible figures of 6-7, with Clapton all out for 113 after 31 overs.

There was opening day success for Tower Hamlets against Royal Sovereign, with Soyfor Rahman smashing 112 in his side’s dramatic victory.

Set 226 to win at 5.65 an over, Sovereign went about the chase with honour and grace, with Mark Stephney (94) run out just short of his century as M Kashem (3-22) pinned the home side back and Tower Hamlets eventually sneaked a slender seven-run win.