The Exiles 25th year anniversary club match was played recently – on Sunday 27th August at Haydons Road. A report of the day can be found here.

Exiles were beaten by one run in a classic at Field View on Sunday.

Spencer got off to a fast start with the bat only to be pulled back by fine spells from Ling (2 for 20) and the ageless Naren Patel (1 for 16). But Spencer’s young side batted right down their order and they were ultimately able to reach a competitive 183 for 7 off their 40.

Exiles response got off to a very slow start and the score was only 12 for 1 off the first 8 as Spencer’s young speedster Ellis impressed. However Iqbal (19) injected some pace into the innings and the platform was then built by Roberts (73) and Plume (32) in a partnership of 79.

Wingfield (31no) and Ahmed joined at the death and despite some big hitting and hard running, were ultimately 2 runs short of a superb win.

An excellent game with inevitably a lot of ‘what if’ moments. On to OMT next week.

With the Exiles 25th anniversary club match only a week away, an Exiles side featuring 5 debutants – 4 borrowed from an over-subscribed Clapham Nomads, was beaten by 7 wickets at Abbey Rec on Sunday.

On electing to bat, Exiles made a steady start before 4 quick wickets reduced the side to 54 for 4. A partnership of 52 between skipper Chris Plume (51) and Andy Wingfield rebuilt the innings but when they both fell, the innings subsided to a meagre 117 all out, perhaps 50 below par as the Nomads bowled very well.

The Nomads also batted well as despite a run out, and strikes from Ahmed and Wingfield, they cruised home in increasingly wet conditions, with Hassan as ever looking good for 37 not out.

Exiles cannot possibly fail to win when they play themselves next week.

Superb innings by Zimbabwean debutant Kevin Ervine (62 off 34) and South African Bernard Leuvennink (74no off 65) fired the Exiles to a decent 38 run win over Whalers at Chiswick.

Exiles batted first on winning the toss and it proved the right decision as Ervine initially and Leuvennink at the death drove the Exiles towards an imposing 204 for 7 off their 35 overs.

A hostile opening spell by Jibran Ahmed ensured Whalers were always behind the rate and Phil Ling’s 4 wickets in the middle (4 for 38) kept the Exiles on top and it was left to Andy Wingfield (2  for 17) to wrap up the win with 2 late wickets.

2 wins on the bounce into Clapham Nomads at Nursery Road next week.