Exiles won their final game of 2018 – beating Surbiton Imperials by 16 runs at Abbey Rec.

Runs were hard to come by as the Exiles ground out 142 for 7 in 35 overs batting first – thanks to an excellent 41 from Bilal Musakhel and a very generous (and critical) 48 extras provided by the Imperials.

In reply the Imperials were restricted to 126 all out – thanks to a very good all round bowling performance from the Exiles – with Andy Wingfield (3 for 9) and Faisal Musakhel (2 for 9) proving particularly miserly.

So Exiles finished 2018 with 7 wins, 7 defeats and 7 draws/ties/abandoned/cancelled.

Following a double-booking Exiles inaugural match with Graces CC was swiftly relocated to an un-prepared track at Dundonald Rec.

Graces chose to bat and were quickly 3 for 3 following 2 strikes from Andy Wingfield (3 for 5) and a run-out. However the number 5 played well for 46 and with some hits from the tail, Graces made it to 136 all out – with Masie Musakhel picking up 4 for 33.

Exiles reply looked well placed at 96 for 3, but following the departures of Leuvennink (25) and Hodgson (43) in quick succession the game changed and it took 2 boundaries in the last over from Jibran to rescue a tie for the Exiles.

An excellent encounter in a match that looked in some doubt earlier in the day! Agricola at Cottenham Park next Sunday.

Exiles won by 12 runs in an excellent game on Sunday.

Choosing to bat first, Exiles got off to a flier thanks in particular to Shahid Iqbal (37 off 23) with support from Bilal Musakhel (25 off 46) taking Exiles to 77 for 1 in the 15th over. However wickets then fell quickly and at 103 for 6 Exiles looked in danger of falling short of a par score, but Andy Wingfield (27) with support from most of the tail took the score to 189 all out in the last over.

An excellent spell of 2 for 20 off 7 from Yayha Khan checked OMTs progress in response and when the returning Jon Parker-Jones (3 for 12) took 3 quick wickets Exiles looked set for a reasonably routine win, only for a belligerent Simon Boardley with a rapid 54 not out for OMT nearly getting his side home.

Luckily Huss Quereshi picked up 2 wickets at the other end to seal an ultimately tense 12 run win for the Exiles.

As yet unconfirmed fixture for next Sunday but hopefully the club can find an away game somewhere.

Exiles were hammered by 194 runs at Spencer on Sunday.

Spencer won the toss and promptly piled up 316 for 3 – a club record conceded by the Exiles – with only Bernard and Marcin picking up a wicket.

Bernard hit 51 in reply but that was about it as the side was bowled out for 122.

OMT away next week – a side who with 306 for 4 a year ago held the previous record score against Exiles. Time for the bowlers to stand up!