GBCC Strikers continued where they left off as the North East London Cricket League returned after the week 14 washout, beating London Fields by 175 runs at Springfield Park to stay top.

The Strikers’ total of 372-7 – the highest in the league’s history – was largely due to the exploits of Zubair Ghardiwala, who hit 220.

Ghardiwala hit 24 sixes on his way to the astonishing total, but only after Fields had made early inroads, having put the league leaders into bat.

Good early spells from Troy Utz and Sam Thornton reduced the Strikers to 80-4 at the halfway stage but Ghardiwala, arriving to stabilise the middle order, swung the balance with a devastating knock.

Smashing boundary after boundary, his brutal innings saw the loss of several balls in the process. Whatever Fields’ bowlers threw at him, Ghardiwala managed to find a way to thump the ball over the rope.

That meant Zakaria Budi, his partner at the other end, was completely overshadowed despite hitting 92 to help his team on their way to a dizzyingly high score after 40 overs.

After an hour of fetching balls from the outer edges of Springfield Park, it was impressive that Fields started their innings so assuredly, with Robin Friend (52) and Steve Dunn (40) getting them off to a strong start.

But, with such a sizeable target, they always had to chase the game and, despite their best efforts, Fields were all out for 197 after 30 overs.

Coach and Horses beat Baring Up by 73 runs on a bright and breezy afternoon at North Marsh.

Having won the toss, Coach made 286 in their 40 overs, with Juwel Roy (99) top scoring with 99, supported by Matt Tait’s 87 as the pair shared a 150-run partnership.

Tom Bellis was the pick of Baring’s bowlers with figures of 4-48, while Jamie Lavers also produced a solid spell, taking 3-54.

The regular loss of Baring wickets hampered the chase. Lavers made 60 before James Moore trapped him lbw, while Bellis’ 31 not out and George Dugdale (30) also contributed to a score of 213 in 36 overs, some 70 short of the target.

Edgar Maddicott did much of the damage with his 3-41 for Coach, while Shakil Mahmud also took two wickets in his six overs.

GBCC moved up to third in the league after beating Bloody Lads by 91 runs at Millfields.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, GBCC lost two early wickets before their middle order dug in, with Ibrahim Mulla (86) and Sufyaan Data (78) taking their side to 273 all out.

Lads’ Joe Ridout was the pick of the bowlers with 4-51 from his eight overs.

In reply, despite the efforts of Jack Eve (63) and Anthony Johnson (51), the Lads were bowled out some way short of the target inside 34 overs.