A superb all round performance from Bernard Leuvennink of 89 not out (off 53 balls with 19 boundaries) and 4 for 54 was not enough for the Exiles as they were beaten by Ham & Petersham on Sunday at Cottenham Park.

Exiles lost their 10th toss in a row and were soon sweltering in the heat, as wickets were hard to come by, and Ham’s hockey-playing German smashed 120, leading his side to 254 for 7 off their 40.

The reply couldn’t have started worse with the top 3 all making ducks, before Craig Williams (34) showed batting was possible. It was left to Leuvennink to reduce Exiles margin of defeat with a stunning late counter-attack, but the damage had been done.

Next up are the Whalers at Nursery Road.

3 wickets from Marcin Zieleniewski and 3 from Ammar Akhtar helped the Exiles to a 47 run win over Surbiton Imperials at Nursery Road.

Having survived the weather, a 30 over game was agreed on a green wicket and after an obdurate start by the openers, Craig Williams (21 off 28) got the Exiles started, but it was a partnership of 67 between Will Kent (24 not out) and Andy Wingfield (39 not out) that accelerated the Exiles innings to finish of 129 for 4.

The Surbiton reply never really got started and it was Akhtar (3 for 18) and Zieleniewski (3 for 19) who were the chief tormentors as they were restricted to 82 for 8 off their 30.

4 wins in a row. Merton at Cottenham Park next week.

Exiles made it 3 wins in a row with an emphatic 10 wicket victory at Beddington.

Beddington won the toss but were soon losing wickets as Andy Wingfield – the only survivor from Exiles’ previous visit to Beddington 13 years ago – took 3 for 20 – and Simon Gundry went one better with 4 for 6; with a welcome first appearance of the season from Terence Moynihan (1 for 19) and steady spells from 2 players borrowed from the opposition – Majeed and Mehran – there was no respite for the Beddington batters and they were eventually dismissed for 79.

Drew Scott-Dawkins (25 not out) anchored the reply and despite skipper Chris Plume picking up a blow to the hand, a further player borrowed for the day – Moin Khan – blasted the Exiles home with 28 not out off 20 balls.

A fine win for the magnificent seven (and four guests!). Next up is Surbiton at Nursery Road.

Exiles beat Agricola by 3 wickets with a tense 3 wicket victory at Haydons Road.

Accurate bowling by the Exiles saw Agricola restricted to 119 all out in 35 overs with Phil Ling taking 4 for 30 on a pitch that was swinging and seaming.

Regular wickets were lost in reply but contributions from Barry Whiteman (23), Craig Williams (17) and Bernard Leuvennink (24) got the Exiles close before a critical partnership of 29 between Simon Gundry (25no) and Ammar Akhtar (7no) saw the Exiles home.

This match was notable for several injuries suffered during the game – for the Exiles Drew Scott-Dawkins (thigh), Jasper Searle (thigh), Bernard Leuvennink (arm) and in particular Jibran Ahmed (hamstring) – which ended his participation in the match early – and for Agricola (and occasional Exile) Justin Lamprecht (calf); there were probably more; it could have been 7-a-side at the end and Steve Parkinson made a return appearance to cricket with a guest appearance for Agricola.

A good win for the Exiles in the series and a return to Beddington next week – after a 13 gap – awaits.