1st XI in spectacular win against The Forty Club

1st XI v The XL Club

XL Club – 172 for 8 (B.Wilson 3/47; E.Craik 3/24)
Haileybury XI – 173 for 2 (B.Wilson 79*; F.Qureshi 86*)

Ben Wilson (Batten) and Fahim Qureshi (Lawrence) put on 162 runs off 194 balls.

Ben Wilson (Batten) and Fahim Qureshi (Lawrence) put together a 162 partnership as the XI completed a comfortable victory over The Forty Club, England’s largest cricket club. After a steady but fruitless start, the XI took their first wicket with The XL Club score on 39.

Luke Mason (Edmonstone) had opened the bowling from The Armoury end and John Mathews of Trevelyan from The Goldings Wood end. Mathews’ aggressive inswing spell of 6 overs went for only 8 runs.

After another frustrating period, the captain took a gamble and called up one of his fleet of wrist spinners, Ben Wilson (Batten). In the side as the opening batsmen, he took his opportunity well and recorded figures of 3 for 47. At the other end, Ed Craik, in his first team debut, bowling nagging left arm medium pace, took his 3 wickets for just 24 runs. The XL Club declared on 172 leaving Haileybury exactly one hour and the final 20 overs in which to reach the target.

The Haileybury innings failed to start in the solid fashion in which all had hoped. The captain, Max Morgan was stumped superbly by the XL club keeper who defied the years to pull off an excellent bit of work down the leg side. Another quick Haileybury dismissal brought Fahim Qureshi to the wicket to join Wilson with the score on 11. What followed was a mature and impressive display of patient and careful innings building from both players. The large, appreciative and knowledgeable crowd at Pavilion were treated to a display of succulent stroke play by both players who completed their partnership of 162 (Qureshi 86*; Wilson 79*) in 194 balls.