Over the last 2 weeks, 9 clubs battled it out in the MITC Men’s Indoor Competition to determine who would represent the county in the ECB National Competition.
The tournament structure saw 3 teams play each other once in their group, with the winners progressing to finals day alongside the team who finished 2nd with the best net run rate.
Group A kicked off proceedings, with Ickenham progressing through after winning their games against North London and Millwall Stars. Highlights with the bat were Leo G from North London, with a brutal 40* off 12 balls vs Millwall Stars, and Luke O’Driscoll, who finished retired not out in both of his innings, with a strike rate of 208. MITC’s very own Tommy Pegler, skippering the North London side, impressed with the ball, taking 4/7 in 1.4 overs. However, it was Ickenham’s experience and skill that saw them through.
Group B presented a mouth-watering clash, as Hampstead and Ealing went down to a last-ball thriller, with Hampstead topping the group. Chasing 119 set by a young Ealing side, last year’s finalists, Hampstead, pulled off a remarkable run chase, going from 17 for 3 to chasing down the runs with a ball to spare. Gagandeep Singh, the hero of the chase, finished on 61* off 25 balls, with no 4s and seven 6s! An honourable mention must go to New Calypsonians, in their first indoor tournament. Whilst it might not have been their day, the spirit and enjoyment with which they played is why we run these competitions.
Group C provided less drama, as last year’s competition winners, and Regional finalists, North London Muslims, swept aside Old Elizabethan’s and MTSSCC to top their group convincingly. They won their first game without the loss of a wicket, and their second by 110 runs. There were strong performances all round, and particularly impressive was Ibrahim A for Old Elizabethan’s, taking 2 for 14 in their 2nd game.
Finals day saw Hampstead take on Ickenham after North London Muslims progressed straight through to the final following a concession from Ealing. A repeat of last year’s semi-final, where Hampstead edged past Ickenham. The match was set to be a cracker! Having won the toss and elected to bowl, Ickenham restricted their opposition well. Ariyen Patel, the pick of the bowlers, with figures of 3 overs, 2 for 17. Hampstead could only reach 89 before their final wicket fell in the last over. 90 to win for Ickenham, and despite an attempted Mankad, and some fiery bowling, Ickenham calmly chased down the runs in 8.4 overs, without losing a wicket.
Onto the final, where North London Muslims batted first, scoring a mammoth 152 in their 10 overs. This was largely thanks to a brutal knock from last year’s top scorer, Imran Mulla, who made 51 off 21 balls. Despite some clean striking late on from Ricky Small-Boyce, early wickets left too much to do as Ickenham fell 53 runs short. This meant that North London Muslims retained their title and will represent Middlesex in the National Competition in the New Year.
A big thank you must go to all of the teams for entering, and to the umpires and scorers.
We are looking to increase our indoor cricket offering with Tape Ball cricket in the new year, with another chance for a club to represent Middlesex nationally! If you would like to find out more, please email [email protected]
