Exiles bright start to 2019 continued with an 8 run win over Unabombers at Nursery Road.

Put into bat, Exiles lost both openers early, but continuing his fine form from last week, Bilal Musakhel smashed a very fine 72 at a run a ball to set up the innings, with some big hitting from Huss Quereshi and Jibran Ahmed in a partnership of 53 at the death taking the side to a competitive 201 for 6 off their 35.

Unabombers reply started well but 4 wickets from Phil Ling turned the game in the Exile favour before 3 further wickets from the golden arm of the skipper further restricted their side, and from there the Exiles were just able to hang on for the win.

Whalers at Chiswick next week.

Exiles started the 2019 season with a fine 67 run win against Clapham Nomads in a match played at Spencer’s ground at Earlsfield.

New skipper Bernard Leuvennink won the toss and chose to bat and soon saw his decision vindicated as the Exiles piled up 202 for 5 off their 35 overs, with Leuvennink (39) setting the early pace, before a superb 65 off 52 balls – including 5 sixes – from Bilal Musakhel accelerated the Exiles to a score which was probably about 30 runs above par.

Miserly spells from openers Jibran Ahmed and Naren Patel heavily restricted the pace of the Nomads response, but it was Andy Wingfield (4 for 23) who struck the decisive blow with 2 wickets in an over – both caught down the leg side.

From there on there was only one winner as Nomads batted out to 135 for 8. Unabombers at Nursery Road next week.

Energy Exiles nets have been booked – as usual at the indoor school at Lords – for the following dates:

• 19 Feb Tuesday 7pm 1 net
• 26 Feb Tuesday 7pm 1 net
• 05 Mar Tuesday 7pm 1 net
• 12 Mar Tuesday 7pm 1 net
• 19 Mar Tuesday 7pm 1 net
• 26 Mar Tuesday 7pm 1 net
• 02 Apr Tuesday 7pm 1 net
• 09 Apr Tuesday 7pm 2 nets
• 16 Apr Tuesday 7pm 1 net
• 30 Apr Tuesday 7pm 2 nets

To book your place, please register via the doodle link – https://doodle.com/poll/45s96p6ce7gh4ei5 . Precedence to members, but new players are very welcome – and actively encouraged to join.

Exiles finished the 2018 season with 7 wins, 7 defeats and 7 draws, ties (!), abandonments & cancellations.

Trophy winners are confirmed as follows:

Bhau Patel Batting Trophy: Jibran Ahmed – 131 runs at 26.20; (Jibs is the 8th different winner of this trophy in the last 8 years!)

Bowling Trophy: Andrew Wingfield – 20 wickets @ 13.00; (Andy and Simon have now won this trophy 12 of the last 13 years – Phil Ling – as he usually does – providing the oddity in 2013)

Fielding Trophy: Bernard Leuvennink – 6 catches;

Man-of-the-match trophy – Andrew Wingfield – 3 matches;

Captains Prize – Andrew Wingfield;