EASTCOTE V RICHMOND RANGERS - MDL RAKESH SETHI TROPHY | MATCH REPORT
Eastcote – 65 all out in 23.5 overs (Leighton Elliott 22)
Richmond – 68-1 in 5.4 overs (Henry McDonald 57*)
Richmond won by nine wickets
Richmond Rangers, Richmond Cricket Club’s Middlesex Development League team, became the first club to win the MDL Trophy three times on Sunday (6 September) when they thumped Eastcote by 9 wickets to win the Rakesh Sethi Trophy.
Richmond’s stunning victory was completed after they dismissed Eastcote for just 65 and knocked the required runs off in 34 balls. The triumph was created by Richmond’s bowlers and the Eastcote wickets were spread evenly amongst those used, with the three Knowles brothers, Hugo, William and Zavier, sharing 6 wickets.
Only two of Eastcote’s batters reached double figures – Leighton Elliott with 22 and Purab Garg with 10. The result completed a disappointing weekend for the Hillingdon based club, whose 1st XI missed out on promotion to the Premier Division of the Middlesex County Cricket League on Saturday.
Richmond Rangers made their intentions clear when Zak Pooley struck the first ball of the run-chase for four. The dismissal of Pooley to the 2nd ball of his side’s innings may have given Eastcote hope of achieving something incredible but those dreams were short lived.
This was because Henry McDonald then took the Eastcote bowling attack apart, striking an unbeaten 57 off just 20 balls. McDonald’s hitting completed Richmond’s emphatic win and allowed those Rangers players who were Arsenal or Chelsea supporters to have a celebratory drink before going home, or staying at the club, to watch the match.
On behalf of Middlesex in the Community I (Angus Fraser) would like to thank all the teams that entered this competition for taking part. At MITC, want to create as many opportunities for people, young and old, to play cricket. Thanks to all the umpires and scorers that supported the games and to the administrators that enable these games to happen.
If that is you done for the 2026 cricket season, have a good break and we look forward to seeing you in 2027, if not before in the winter indoor leagues. If you would like to be involved in MITC’s indoor cricket leagues please contact Stephanie Reingold at [email protected]
