Exiles won for the 10th time from 12 matches in 2026 with a 3 wicket victory over new opponents The Covenant CC at the Hervey Road Sports Ground near Blackheath on Sunday.

Exiles lost the toss and were fielding first in hot and dry conditions and with a strong looking opposition batting line up apparently well capable of scores above 300. Whilst the outfield was like a desert the square itself was suprisingly green and that generated some swing and seam for Nadeem and Zia opening the bowling for the Exiles.

And they responded magnificently, supported by young Ishaan and reduced The Covenant to 32 for 5, courtesy in part of some excellent catches – Zia and Nadeem both with caught and bowleds, but Zia also with a superb one handed reflex catch at wide slip.

Exiles were well on top and could afford to take their foot off the pedal a little and allowed The Covenant back into the match somewhat before the returning Zia closed out the innings with 2 late wickets and an excellent direct hit run-out, The Covenant closing 153 all out.

Exiles were aware of facing a potentially decent bowling attack from the home side, and the early losses of Shahid and Hasan did little to help. But a substantial partnership of 77 then followed between Darwin – with a steady 28 and captain KK with a fine 52 put the Exiles into a strong position at 105 for 2, albeit with overs starting to run out.

Darwin more or less sacrificed himself to assist the run rate, but unfortunately that led to a flurry of wickets as KK himself was then bowled, as was Andy – unluckily kicking one down the leg side onto his stumps with his trailing boot – and then Ahmad was also bowled and suddenly it was game on again. Zia also fell relatively soon after and Exiles had lost 5 wickets for 21 runs.

But at number 9 they had surely one of the best number 9s in Sunday friendly cricket in Nadeem – fresh from back to back 20 ball fifties in the previous 2 matches – and he promptly smashed his third ball for six and with support from the other Zia, a quick partnership of 30 saw the Exiles home with 5 overs to spare.

This was a fine performance from the Exiles against good opposition and the win could’ve been much more emphatic. Ploughman’s in Dulwich next week.

Exiles emphatically returned to winning ways with a 9 wicket win over new opponents South London Anaesthetists at the Trevor Bailey Sports Ground.

Another very solid all round bowling performance saw the home side restricted to 115 for 6 from their 30 overs with a wicket on debut for Ishaan and 2 for Zia.

Nadeem rocketed Exiles to a win in extra quick time with another emphatic half century – with 5 boundaries and 5 maximums in his 52 before retiring not out.

Hasan and Sri took the side home with over 5 overs unused. 9 wins from 11 this season so far. Fixture details for next week as yet unconfirmed.

Exiles were beaten by new opposition Eleven Allrounders in a pulsating game in Weybridge.

The Allrounders batted first and blitzed their way in hot and very dry conditions to 236 all out in just 22.3 overs – leaving over 12 overs unused, Nadeem the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 38.

Exiles looked well out of it at 88 for 5 before Abdul (28) supported Nadeem who blitzed a 20 ball fifty – with seven sixes – to get the Exiles back in the game. After they departed, Safi (42 not out – with four sixes of his own) got Exiles very close, but wickets continued to fall at the other end and eventually Exiles fell just short.

So a match of 466 runs in less than 50 overs. Time for the Exiles to start another winning run next match – fixture as yet to be confirmed.

Exiles made it 8 wins in a row with a hard fought 3 wicket victory against Whalers at Barn Elms on Sunday.

Whalers won the toss and batted on another sweltering day and Nadeem struck in the first over. As ever this season, Exiles produced a consistently good attack, never letting the Whalers batters truly settle, with Teja making 49 albeit after being dropped early twice.

The spinners were the pick with captain KK taking 3 for 15 and debutant Alamgir 4 for 33. 159 all out seemed a very chaseable total.

But batting also proved tough for the Exiles with the Whalers also producing a very solid attack. Exiles lost both Safi and Hasan in the same over, before Abdul (31) and Andy consolidated with a partnership of 49 before they too both fell in the same over – Andy to a fine diving catch at wide slip.

Exiles had a long batting line up and they needed it. It was Ahmad with 47 who provided the main substance only getting out with the scores level chasing his fifty. Nadeem came out at 9 to smash the winning boundary first ball, with Shahid unbeaten at the other end.

Exiles were winners by 3 wickets with 22 balls left. So 8 wins in a row – the club record is 9 – achieved twice (for completed matches) – 2008 and 2015 into 2016…

Karnataka next up.