1st XI seal promotion after thumping win over Clifton: match report
1s clinch promotion in final game of the season, despite getting off to the worst possible start, writes Devraj Ray
Having lost the toss, Clifton CC put Mill Hill Village 1st XI into bat on a sticky Burtonhole Lane wicket following a week of heavy rain. With promotion on the line in the final league game of the season, a combination of poor shot choices left the side reeling at 71-7 before Obaid Ur Rehman came into bat at number nine and played an innings that will go down in Village folklore.
Picture special: Fantastic 1st XI win promotion
With the opposition talking about keeping Village to a score of less than 100, Ur Rehman smashed 69 off 58 balls, as the Clifton fielders ran out of ideas. Sitting aside the boundary, the Village players and spectators went from dejected to elated, as Ur Rehman, James Thompson, Amit Chadha, and Lee Cara all chipped in and took the score to 183 all out, giving the bowlers a strong total to defend.
Opening bowlers Sam Smith and Tommy Smith hit their lengths from the outset and took six wickets between them, Tommy taking four wickets for the second week running. Chadha then took two wickets in a short but very dangerous spell of leg spin, before Marcus Cara finished off the tail with two wickets to bowl Clifton out for just 86. Cue bedlam, as promotion to Division 4B was secured.