Naren reached the terrific carrier milestone of 400 wickets for the Exiles as Exiles won again – for the sixth time in a row and the 13th of the season – with a fine 45 run win over Millfields at Hilly Fields in Brockley.

Exiles batted first and it was Hasan – recently returned from Pakistan – who was extremely fluent from the off – stroking a beautiful 60 at quicker than a run a ball. The pitch was offering variable bounce and considerable spin at times but Exiles powered on.

Usual skipper Shahid returned from injury batting with one arm and managed to score 25 and despite clear discomfort didn’t exactly bat conservatively. With contributions at the top also from Darwin and skipper for the day KK, Exiles had set a pacy, if slightly precarious platform at 113 for 4.

There then followed a very good partnership of 83 between Andy (31) and Nadeem who continued his great form with the bat with a typically hard hit 48 off just 28 balls. When they were both caught in back to back overs, Waleed smashed an even quicker 31 with support from Fahad as the Exiles closed on an excellent 249 for 8.

The talk at tea was whether today was the day Naren would get to 400 career wickets for the Exiles. And he responded in the most emphatic way – bowling the Millfields opener first ball of the innings – and followed up with two further strikes in the first over to move to 402! So many congratulations to Naren – and he’s now on the way to 500!

The Millfields batters then re-grouped with a partnership of 66 for the 4th wicket before KK broke through. Thereafter, wickets were taken reasonably regularly with further strikes for KK – who bowled a superb spell and clearly enjoyed bowling too much – actually bowling himself for an 8th over (with a 7 over limit – apologies to Millfields for the oversight), Waleed and Hasan; Collis hit 65 for Millfields before top edging one off Andy who bowled a typical mixture of deliveries these days with some pies and some decent deliveries and at least managed to also bowl the Millfields number 10 off the last ball of the match for a second wicket of the day and 395th career one for the Exiles with one that turned considerably from outside leg to bowl him round his pads.

Millfields closed on 204 for 9 and Exiles were winners in an enjoyable encounter by 45 runs. On to John Innes next week to play Merton looking for a 7th win in a row.

Exiles picked up their 12th win of the 2025 season courtesy of an emphatic 206 run victory over West Wimbledon at Dundonald Rec.

Batting first a fine 86 run stand in just over 12 overs between the returning Zaheer (53 retired not out), and Saeed (28) got the Exiles of to a brisk start before 3 quick wickets looked to have checked the Exiles progress as they were reduced to 94 for 3 with experienced opposition captain Dilshad taking 2 wickets in a fine spell of 2 for 24.

There then followed a nostalgic 75 run partnership at a run a ball between Andy (32) and Simon (51 retired not out) which reaffirmed Exiles dominant position to 169 for 3 in the 27th over.

When Andy gloved the returning opener behind and Simon retired after reaching fifty, West Wimbledon were then faced with an onslaught from Nadeem (54 not out) and Asad – reduced to number 8 in the order for this match in a wicket keeper batter role – of 77 in 7 overs with 7 sixes. Captain KK then had a tiring 0 not out off zero deliveries running at the non-strikers end to help Nadeem to fifty.

Exiles closed on a very strong 262 for 5 off their 35 overs on a pitch that was still damp an offering some at times extremely variable bounce.

The West Wimbledon top order was then blown away in response as Phil took advantage of the conditions with a fine 3 for 2 – with no runs off the bat – and Waleed picked up one courtesy of a sharp catch by Simon who also enacted a direct hit run out. The game was over at 8 for 5.

KK’s spin accounted for a further 2 wickets and at the other end Nadeem broke Naren’s record for most Exiles wickets in a season – which has stood since 1999 – with his 40th and 41st wickets. All that was left was for Andy to bowl 3 full tosses which were easily smashed to the boundary by Wimbledon’s top scorer Bartlett (36), before one was finally landed on the actual pitch and immediately brought a first Exiles wicket of the season from the former opening bowler.

So Wimbledon were all out for 56 and Exiles picked up a fifth win on the bounce with what was actually an excellent team performance, albeit with West Wimbledon not having their strongest line up available.

Next Exiles travel to Hilly Fields in Brockley to face Millfields.