Sunbury Cricket Club was buzzing as captain Maunders inspired his team to an emphatic 48-run victory over old rivals Ealing in the U15 County Cup Final.

 

A gloriously sunny but blustery Friday evening was the setting as the U15s took on an incredibly strong Ealing side on the top square in a must-win game. The large crowd that turned out to watch some of Sunbury’s most talented young cricketers were thoroughly entertained, as the side put on a magnificent display of high-skill and high-octane cricket.  After Sunbury won the toss and elected to bat first, Ealing immediately knew they were in a contest. In the very first ball of the match, Maunders marched down the wicket at their best seamer, a signal of intent that this Sunbury side were not going to take a backwards step. A play and miss the next ball drew the anticipated cacophony of yelling and clapping from the Ealing fielders. Then, off the final delivery of the opening over, with Sunbury still yet to register a run, Maunders executed a perfect ramp shot that sailed over the keeper’s head and the boundary rope for six. It was a piece of batsmanship equal in both its audacity and skill. The Ealing noise dimmed somewhat.

 

Sunbury’s opening pair of Maunders and Kerridge soon began to find their rhythm: Maunders taking ten runs off Dhasmana’s second over, including another ramp – this time for a one-bounce four. By the time Kerridge departed, edging behind off Amratala for 14, Sunbury were well placed with 40 runs on the board at the end of the powerplay.  However, there was a ripple of nervousness among the Sunbury faithful as Mehmi top edged a slog sweep for 10, before Granger picked out deep square leg on 1 and Obhrai overbalanced to be stumped first ball. Three wickets fell for two runs in the same Iyer over, as the scoreboard suddenly made for less pretty reading at 55-4 off 9 overs.

 

Never a man to be ruffled, Maunders was evidently undeterred by the situation as he went about his batting with the same positive intent, his composed accumulation of runs befitting of a batsman ten years his senior. Although Ahmed, who entered the fray after Obhrai’s dismissal, played a strong supporting role to the captain, his ability to give Maunders the majority of the strike and keep the score ticking over was crucial in preventing a build-up of pressure and a possible batting collapse.

 

At the end of the thirteenth over, Maunders brought up his half-century and thus had to retire not out. Fittingly, his magnificent knock of 53 from 40 balls ended with a boundary – this time a sweep for four off off-spinner Dissanayake. That brought Cholewa to the crease and he and Ahmed continued the steady flow of runs with some excellent running between the wickets. The pair began to accelerate after the fifteen over mark: the next three overs going for thirty runs, courtesy of some great ball striking and more outstanding running.  Cholewa holed out to long on from the final ball of the penultimate over for a very well made 26 from 23, ending a vital 47-run stand with Ahmed. Some more clever running in the final over, that also saw Hussain run out without facing a ball, produced ten runs and took Sunbury to the total of 144-6, Ahmed finishing unbeaten on 29.

 

The powerplay was always going to be crucial in determining the success of Ealing’s chase; it was imperative that the visitors didn’t get off to a flyer. With this in mind, Sunbury’s opening bowlers did an exceptional job of keeping Patel and Khan bogged down. Granger and Bloomfield bowled an immaculate length and with good pace. After four overs, just 21 runs had been conceded, with the only boundary coming from a streaky thick edge off the bowling of Bloomfield.  Then, on the fifth ball of the fifth over, Marland produced a spectacular moment of individual brilliance. Granger sent down a heavy ball to Khan who tried to muscle it straight. While the batsman didn’t get all of it, for all the money it looked as though the ball was clearing the infield and heading to the boundary for four. Marland, however, had other ideas.  Sprinting to his left, eyes locked on the pink ball like an eagle on its prey, he hurled himself vertically in the air. At the peak of his leap, left arm at full stretch above his head, Marland grasped the ball. With the prize of the dangerous Khan’s wicket in his left hand, he tumbled back down to earth. A brief moment of silence followed – the game almost on pause for a split second as everyone tried to work out what had happened. When it became clear that Marland had successfully pulled off a miraculous piece of fielding, the quiet suspense erupted into joyous pandemonium. The Sunbury players tore over to their teammate from all directions, the crowd cheered and clapped in marvel, and the Ealing batsman trudged off downbeat.  Marland’s catch proved to be a pivotal point in the game, a momentum shifter that elevated the home side and deflated the visitors.

 

Indeed, it didn’t take long for Bloomfield to get in on the act, as the very next over Bloomfield removed Rajapakse, Connors taking a sharp catch at backward point.  With the powerplay done, Sunbury’s spinners – so often a source of control and wickets – were introduced. Left arm spinner Hussain bowled tidily but it was Connors who struck: a smart caught and bowled in the leggy’s second over dismissed Hickman for 8.  Patel and Puri consolidated for Ealing, taking the score to 73-3 at the end of the 12th over, but they were never able to cut loose.

 

The 13th over provided a beautifully comedic sequence of events. The first delivery of Maunders’ second over saw Patel cloth the ball after an ugly swipe, and it looped gently off the splice of his bat straight to the awaiting Ahmed at extra cover. Such was the simplicity of the catch and the quality of the fielder, most Sunbury players were already on their way to celebrate. And yet, inexplicably, rather than the ball nestling in Ahmed’s hands, it found itself on the floor. Quite how it happened nobody knows, but it left the mortified Ahmed furiously thumping the ground in frustration and disbelief, while Maunders angrily picked up the ball and hurled it into the floor. Ahmed was just finishing up his fight with the turf as the ball travelled to long off and the Ealing batsmen trotted through for a bizarre single.

 

Next ball, Puri attempted a massive slog sweep that he could only top edge. As if deliberately taunting the bowler, the ball landed behind the wicket keeper and in the middle of two converging fielders.  It’s safe to say that Maunders was not overly amused, but his mood quickly changed as the third delivery of the over saw Puri attempt to take on the throw of Obhrai at long off in trying to complete a second run. It was a fatal miscalculation as the scrambling batsman was well short of his ground when Maunders took the bails off. To add insult to the Ealing injury – and complete a hectic four balls – Patel then edged behind to Mehmi, who took a very good catch to leave the batting side struggling at 76-5.

 

Connors bowled both Tallboy and Amratalal for one and nought respectively in the following over, before Dangar found Marland at deep midwicket off the bowling of Maunders. A Hussain over preceded Maunders’ final over, and what turned out to be the last of the match. Dhasmana was unluckily run out backing up at the non-striker’s end, after the ball clipped the bowler’s hand on the way to crashing into the stumps, and Iyer was the last man to fall, caught and bowled by Maunders for 17 off the next ball.

 

His dismissal completed a clinical and comprehensive win for Sunbury, who were the dominant side throughout. For Ealing, as Ernest Hemingway said of bankruptcy, their defeat happened gradually, then suddenly. They collapsed from 76-3 to 96 all out, but the visitors were also unable to capitalise on having Sunbury 55-4 after 9 overs in the first innings.  Ultimately, Sunbury were the better side in all three facets of the game; their calmness under pressure with the bat, control with the ball and, one dropped dolly aside, their excellence in the field all proved too much for Ealing.

 

As the celebratory chanting of You Are My Sunbury echoed from the changing room, the many supporters reflected on what had been an incredibly entertaining game of cricket, won by an incredibly talented group of cricketers.

With the weather forecast for much of the week preceding Sunday’s final indicating rain could torpedo all hopes of a grand finale to the season, the blanket of light grey cloud that lingered unthreateningly over North-West London was a welcome sight. The covers were packed away and the Sunbury fraternity, who had made the trip to Lord’s in great numbers to support their side, waited in excited anticipation.

Having completed the formalities of team photos in front of the pavilion and with both sides busily warming up on the outfield, the two captains, Grimbaldeston of Didsbury and Maunders of Sunbury, wandered to the middle with the umpires for the toss. A moment of hush descended around the ground as it was announced that Sunbury’s skipper had called correctly and elected to bat.

Shortly after the famous bell was rung, Sunbury’s opening pair of Maunders and Kerridge strode out to the pitch. There was a punch of gloves before the two parted for Maunders to take guard and Kerridge to assume his position at the non-striker’s end. Grimbaldeston, shiny pink ball clutched in his right hand, stood waiting by the end of his mark at the Nursery End. The stage was set, it would be captain to captain, and with a call of ‘play’ from the standing umpire, the U15 National Cup final was underway.

A solid Sunbury start

Sticking to his modus operandi, Maunders walked down the wicket first ball. While his attempted cut shot yielded only a play and miss, the intent was clear: Sunbury would be positive and were not going to be overawed by the occasion. Somewhat anticlimactically, the innings got off the mark with a wide, but the following delivery Maunders scored the ECB Junior National Championship finals – U15 Boys – Sunbury CCfirst run off the bat with a dab to backward point for a single from a good ball. Kerridge followed his partner in missing the first ball but his second, and last ball of the opening over, was scythed through extra-cover for four.

The Didsbury opening bowlers for the most part were very disciplined with their line and length, but the ability for Sunbury’s batsmen to rotate strike with regularity meant the scoreboard kept ticking over. On the odd occasion when a loose delivery was served up, it was often capitalised upon – Maunders carving a full ball with width over cover-point for four off Johnson, and Kerridge dispatching both Grimbaldeston and Johnson over mid-off for boundaries in successive overs. There was a moment of fortune for the batting side when Maunders was granted a life on 12 after wicket keeper Ibrahim shelled a healthy edge diving to his right off his captain’s bowling. The result was that at the six over mark, Sunbury were 40 without loss.

In the eighth over, spin was introduced for the first time in the match through the off-spin of Rangaraju. His first five balls were milked for five singles when, on the sixth, Kerridge danced down the track seeking to go big. The ball, however, eluded everyone: a swipe at fresh air from Kerridge and a missed stumping by Ibrahim saw it trickle to the boundary for four byes.

Maunders’ attempt proved far more successful in Rangaraju’s second over; the Sunbury captain’s fast feet got to the pitch of the ball, combining elegance with power to loft it over extra-cover and into the stands for the final’s first maximum.

Kerridge began the eleventh over by driving seamer Hinduja to the fence but, in attempting to repeat the same trick twice, miscued to provide Youell with a comfortable catch at mid-off the very next ball. His dismissal ended an outstanding opening stand of 68, of which Kerridge had contributed 32 off 31 balls, laying an excellent platform from which the rest of the Sunbury innings could be built.

Didsbury keep Sunbury in check

Keeper Rishaan joined his skipper and the pair continued to rotate the strike, but some disciplined Didsbury bowling and a slow, lush outfield meant the destructive keeper-batsman never got going. Perhaps symptomatic of a frustration at being unable to find the boundary, Rishaan attempted a reverse sweep off Rangaraju only to see his off stump removed for 7 from 12 deliveries. That brought the big-hitting Alfie Granger to the crease, but it was just the briefest of stays as he clothed the ball to Patel at extra-cover first ball trying to go aerial. Didsbury were enjoying their best period of the match and had their tails up as Obhrai entered the fray.

With the dressing room safely intact, back on the field the left-arm medium pace of Majithia replaced Hinduja from the Nursery End, while the tall figure of Youell took up proceedings from the Pavillion End. Maunders and Obhrai continued to consistently pick up ones and twos without ever being able to cut loose when, having just taken the total to one hundred runs, Maunders edged behind off the bowling of Majithia for a classy 45 from 50 balls. As has so often been the case throughout the season, the Sunbury skipper delivered a fine knock in a crucial game.

Obhrai and Ahmed finish well

Ahmed, the new man in, got off the mark first ball with a clip off his legs for a single to take Sunbury to a nervously modest 101-4 with three overs remaining.

The combination of Obhrai and Ahmed, arguably Sunbury’s most tenacious runners between the wickets, helped inject some much-needed impetus and acceleration in a game where boundaries had been scarce. Indeed, in the following eleven balls thirteen runs were accumulated without the ball ever reaching the fence.

Then, off the final ball of the penultimate over, Obhrai pulled off a masterful piece of batsmanship. Grimbaldeston, back into the attack, sent down a length delivery outside off stump at good pace. In a premeditated shot, Obhrai got down on one knee and skilfully flipped the ball over his left shoulder, where the backpedalling fine leg fielder could only get fingertips to the ball as it crept over the rope for six. Loud cheers erupted from the Sunbury supporters in the stands, with the most raucous emanating from the Boeing 777’s-worth of Obhrai family members who had made the trip across the pond to watch him play.

Ahmed tucked the first two balls of the final over, bowled by Johnson, into the leg side, picking up two on both occasions, and then dug out a yorker to hand the strike over to Obhrai. His swipe over midwicket found the gap for another priceless boundary. A wider delivery alluded Obhrai’s swing on the fifth ball, with Ahmed (12 off 11) runout by Faisal attempting to sneak a bye to the keeper. Cholewa had one delivery to face and got bat on a low full toss to Grimbaldeston at long-off, who’s throw to the keeper saw the new man run out coming back for a second run. It meant Sunbury finished with a score of 130-6 from their 20 overs, Obhrai unbeaten on a crucial 17 runs off 15 balls.

The Didsbury chase begins with drama

Sunbury’s defence didn’t get off to the best of starts, as Kush Patel cut the uncharacteristically loose Granger for two successive fours in the first over. However, Bloomfield hit his straps immediately and looked in good rhythm from the Nursery End. Indeed, he very nearly struck with his second ball: Patel top edged a sharp delivery to deep point where the athletic Connors came charging in off the rope but failed to cling on to the ball as he dived forward. It was a tough chance and a valiant effort but, as one of Sunbury’s best fielders, one he would have hoped to take. Four dots rounded out the over, before Granger conceded just three runs from his second.

Seth pulled Bloomfield to the short leg-side boundary for six as Didsbury took eleven off the third over to continue their seesaw start to the chase. Off the last ball of the fifth over, Granger struck. Patel forced a back-of-a-length delivery to midwicket where Hussain pouched a sharp, low chance.

A tidy Bloomfield over saw Didsbury reach 34-1 after six, before Maunders brought himself on to replace Granger at the Pavillion End. His six balls cost only four runs but just as the batting side appeared to be getting bogged down, new batsman Hinduja picked up a short ball off Bloomfield for six and Seth tickled one down the leg side for four in the same over.

Sensational Sunbury spinners squeeze Didsbury

It was just a one-over spell from Maunders as the captain introduced left-arm orthodox spinner Hussain, who conceded five runs off his first set of six. From the other end, the talismanic leg-spinner Connors – nicknamed ‘the wizard’ – was brought on to bowl. And it took only four balls for his magic to take effect as Seth was sent packing thanks to some lightning-quick reactions from the leggie, which saw him snaffle a caught and bowled just inches off the ground.

Hussain and Connors traded good overs, after which the Sunbury captain was welcomed back into the attack by being driven to the cover-point boundary for four by Hinduja. Having conceded a boundary off the first ball, Maunders fought back well to limit the over to seven runs.  Seeking to press the accelerator, Hinduja leapt on a rare drag-down from Connors and pulled him for six and then combined with number four Krishav Rangaraju to take Maunders for eight the next over.

With Hinduja set and Didsbury needing 37 runs from the final 30 balls with eight wickets in hand, Sunbury found themselves in urgent need of some wizardry from Connors in his last over. And, just as he has done for the entire season, the leg-spinner delivered.  While Connors very often bowls like a genius, it seems unlikely his chosen mode of attack was a Baldrick-esque cunning plan in the form of a knee-high full toss. Nevertheless, that was the delivery sent down to the hard-hitting Hinduja, who sought to launch the ball over the sight screens. However, his forceful swing of the bat did not bring about the desired connection. Rather than sailing over the ropes, the ball’s trajectory indicated it would fall well short. Worse still for the batsman and Didsbury, it was heading straight for the awaiting Bloomfield at long-off.

Tension gripped the ground like a vice; everyone knew what a pivotal moment in the match this was. Yet, where Hinduja had mistimed, Bloomfield had misjudged. The Sunbury fielder came haring in but, in his desire to make sure he took the catch, overran. Realising his error, Bloomfield halted his charge and flung himself backwards. Arms outstretched above his head, he Fosbury flopped in desperation towards the ball. With his hands grasping the prize of Hinduja’s wicket, Bloomfield fell back down to earth. In simultaneous Sunbury euphoria, the crowd roared while the players sprinted over to engulf their teammate in congratulations. It was a magical moment that moved the momentum back in Sunbury’s direction.  Backing up the brilliance of Bloomfield, Maunders delivered a masterful over of off-spin under pressure. Four dot balls were bowled and only three runs scored to help Sunbury tighten the screw.

Hussain holds his nerve to seal Sunbury win

Although Sunbury were in the ascendency, the game was still on a knife edge. Didsbury were 100-3 with three overs remaining, and at the same stage in their innings Sunbury were 101-4. Fittingly, sitting among the fans in the stands was a certain Kane Williamson, a man who knows a thing or two about close finals at Lord’s.  With Bloomfield (0-25), Connors (2-16) and Maunders (0-22) having all bowled their four overs, Hussain was handed the ball. It was a change of ends for the left-armer, who now had to contend with the batters having a short legside boundary. A fine sweep for two by Rangaraju off the first ball was followed by a single and then a priceless dot ball to Johnson. The sequence was repeated: two, one, dot. A sublime six deliveries that, for the first time in the match, put his side firmly in front.

Granger was tasked with the penultimate over and four balls into it, Didsbury could only muster four singles – the right-arm quick homing in on the block hole brilliantly. An excellent yorker was again delivered on the fifth ball but a wild swing from Johnson brought about a thick inside edge that beat the sprawling Mehmi for a streaky four runs. Fortunate it may have been, but Didsbury cared not. Crucially, Granger was also unphased and rounded out the over by executing another perfect yorker that went for only one run. He finished with 1-27 from his four overs and, most importantly, had done his job in leaving Hussain with fifteen runs to play with.

First up, a flighted delivery on off stump was met with a slog sweep from Johnson, but the ball spun past his bat. Dot ball. Same ball, same shot on the second delivery, only this time the right hander connected and pierced the gap at midwicket for four. Looking to take the short boundary out of the equation, Hussain responded with a wider, quicker ball that Johnson cut out to deep extra-cover for two. A carbon copy of that delivery was then sent down, but Didsbury’s number five failed to make contact. Another dot. With nine runs needed from two balls, Johnson knew he had to clear the ropes. And so, on the fifth ball, he came dancing down the pitch. However, the guile of Hussain dovetailed with the superb glovework of Mehmi to send the batsman back to the pavilion and all but end Didsbury’s hopes of winning. The Sunbury faithful exploded into rapturous hollering, knowing that their side were on the cusp of victory.

And that victory was confirmed a few moments later when Youell clothed the ball into the legside for a single. Hussain raised his arms aloft. Perhaps only with the exception of Weibgen, the left-hander has been Sunbury’s most impactful and important acquisition of the season. Taking 1-24 from four overs along with a sharp catch had helped secure the final, but there had been countless critical performances from him throughout the season.

Indeed, that was the case for every member of the squad: in the final Cholewa and Marland were quietly excellent sweeping the cover and square-leg boundaries, their fielding helping to save crucial runs. But both had also put in match-winning contributions with bat, ball and in the field on Sunbury’s journey to the Home of Cricket. The same can be said for Pearson, Jain, O’Connor and Sharp who, having been substitutes watching on from the sidelines, now sprinted onto the field to join the joyous pandemonium.

A champion team

Sunbury’s U15s had won the National Cup. Though not quite by the barest of margins, it had nonetheless been a close, enthralling final against a strong Didsbury side who had consistently dispatched teams en route to Lord’s.  With medals around the players’ necks, Sunbury’s captain was handed the trophy. It was an object that embodied all the hard work every member of the squad and coaching staff had put in over the years; all the anguish and elation; the fortune and misfortune; the sacrifices by parents.

To win a national competition you have to be a special group of cricketers. And that they are, but this team are more. Each individual’s desire to do well is driven only by the desire for collective success. Led by their inspirational captain Maunders, they are always a united force that never know when they’re beaten. It is, therefore, no coincidence that seven of the starting eleven at Lord’s played their first ever game of cricket together some eight seasons ago.

A standing ovation was given by the Sunbury supporters as the team wandered over to parade their hard-fought trophy and thank those who had turned out to cheer them on. The U15s of 2025 had etched their names into club history, becoming our first junior side to win the National Cup.  Fluttering majestically above the changing room balcony, the Sunbury flag appeared to dance to the jubilant chants of You Are My Sunbury that echoed around the Pavillion.  And as the delighted crowds filtered out of Lord’s, old Father Time began to twitch. The wind had picked up and the rain blew in.  Sunbury had beaten Didsbury, and they had beaten the weather. They were U15 National Cup Champions.

 

Highgate CC’s Under-13 Girls capped off a dominant season with a spectacular performance in the MJCA Girls U13 Hardball League Knock-Out Final, dismantling Ealing CC by 131 runs to claim the title.

Highgate’s Batting Blitz.  Put in to bat after losing the toss, Highgate wasted no time in seizing control. Opener E. Metcalf was in irresistible form, smashing 95 off just 48 balls – an innings laced with 16 boundaries and 2 sixes at a strike rate near 200.  She found strong support from S. Nanayakkara (47* off 42) in a partnership that wrested all momentum away from Ealing. The final flourish came from E. Shaw, whose unbeaten 44 from 25 balls included 6 fours and 2 sixes, propelling Highgate to a daunting 212/2 in their 20 overs.  Ealing’s bowlers toiled in the face of relentless hitting, with S. Chahal (1/38) and A. Bhalodia (1/42) the only wicket-takers.

Ealing’s Struggle in the Chase.  Chasing 213 for victory, Ealing’s innings never got going. Highgate’s attack struck early, with E. Shaw removing opener S. Dusad for a duck. The introduction of S. Nanayakkara proved decisive – she returned remarkable figures of 2 for 1 from 2 overs, including a maiden.  Middle-order resistance came only from A. Johnson (21* off 19) and M. Simons (12 off 20), but regular wickets from H. Payne (2/6), L. Wells (2/9), and A. Kottoor (2/20) kept Ealing firmly on the back foot.  Ealing were bowled out for 81 in 17.3 overs, handing Highgate a commanding 131-run triumph.

Key Turning Points.  Metcalf’s boundary-laden innings that crushed early bowling plans.  Nanayakkara’s double-strike in the middle overs that broke Ealing’s resistance.  Ealing losing 5 wickets for just 9 runs between the 4th and 9th overs.

 

On Sunday 27^th July 2025 Highgate Cricket Club in North London hosted the MJCA Girls League Knockout Final between Highgate CC Girls U15 and Sunbury CC Girls U15.  Highgate qualified as the Middlesex North Area winners with Sunbury winning the South area.  It was an early 09:30 start, with bright sunshine looking down as Highgate won the toss and put Sunbury into bat on a green wicket, with one short-sided boundary in need of protection.

Highgate opened with a mix of spin from at one end and pace at the other.  Sunbury’s got off to a watchful start negotiating some tricky deliveries from the skilled Highgate bowling attack. After ten overs Highgate had restricted Sunbury to 47 runs however both openers remained intact.  Sunbury then accelerated through their batting innings. The remaining ten overs accruing a further 81 runs to set a total of 128 for Highgate to chase.  Sunbury openers Phillips and Gillespie reached 48 and 44 respectively and a total of five wickets fell in a late effort to push the total.  There was one wicket apiece for Highgate’s Captain Bernstein, Ogilvie and Nannayakkara with all six bowlers used conceding few runs, Patel, Shaw and Bernstein the pick with economies of 4.

In reply, Highgate also batted carefully through the opening overs with Sunbury opting to begin with slow bowling. Highgate’s run rate followed a similar pattern to Sunbury’s with 37 runs off the first ten overs and an acceleration through the remaining ten. Sunbury did manage to pick up early and regular wickets throughout the chase, the first a good overhead catch by Gala. These wickets pegged back Highgate somewhat.  Despite a flurry of late runs Highgate ended 29 runs short, leaving Sunbury of winners for the day.  Nannayakkara ended with 28* and was ably assisted by Bernstein, 26*.  The low economies of Sunbury’s bowlers helped secure the result, from four overs each – Ramsbottom 1 wicket for 8 runs; Catley 1 wicket for 9 runs; Mansfield 2 wickets for 16 runs; and Gillespie 1 wicket for 13 runs.

It was a keenly contested match, played with great spirit from both teams who should both be proud of how they represented their clubs.  To cap their day, Sunbury were fortunate to be presented the trophy by non other than Middlesex and England’s Angus Fraser.