Royal Sovereign were convincing victors in their bottom-of-the-table North East London League clash with Bloody Lads at London Fields, putting this season’s batting woes aside to amass a club record total of 292.
Bloody Lads inserted Sovereign on what turned out to be a decent track with one very short boundary.
Early inroads were made by Sheldon Greenland (1-40) and James Grindrod (1-29), who helped reduce the home side to 88-4.
But the fifth-wicket partnership of 85 between Erage Alexander (63) and Luke Browne put the game back in Sovereign’s hands, and the sixth-wicket stand of 102 between Browne (73) and Evans Willie (45 not out) ensured the Lads would have a tough target to chase.
Their reply started badly, with Nick Franks (2-22) taking the opening two wickets before a run-out left them 23-3 after eight overs – but the ensuing partnership between Grindrod and Jack Ensor put on 88 and kept the Lads around the required run-rate.
When Ensor was bowled for 32 by Mark Stephney (1-32), the rest of the batting line-up could only contribute another 55, and Sovereign’s 126-run win was confirmed when Grindrod was last man out for 95, just short of what would have been a well-deserved ton.
Meanwhile, Clapton & Oval made it three wins out of four with a six-wicket victory over Stoke Newington.
Clapton were forced into the field on a dry track, but opening bowler Ismail Matvad took two wickets in a hostile six-over spell.
Stoke Newington’s middle order nonetheless accumulated runs, albeit slowly, with Imran Ali (51) frustrating the attack and Dilnawaz Ali making 40 to post a total of 188-7 after 40 overs.
Marcus Elwin was the pick of the bowlers with 3-35 from his four overs at the death.
The Clapton response was dominated by one man – opening batsman Kaspar Pedersen, who continued his rich vein of form with an unbeaten 101. Pedersen signalled his intent early on with three fours, producing a range of shots on his way to his first century of the season.
A particularly glorious cover drive for four and a straight six over the bowler’s head will live long in the memory, as Clapton comfortably reached their target with 11 overs to spare.
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