2007 League Match Reports

2007, AN AMAZING YEAR FOR OSTERLEY CRICKET CLUB

Wow, what a year, what a season, for Osterley Cricket Club! Champions of the Middlesex League Division One, for the third year in a row. Winners of the Middlesex Knockout Cup (formerly known as Ibex cup), after beating top Premier County League side and last two years winners Finchley in the final.
In winning this tournament Osterley became the first ever team from Middlesex League to lift this cup, not only once but twice in the last four years. (Incredibly the organisers ‘forgot’ to add the winners name on the shield when Osterley last won the competition in 2004, but managed to remember the 2005 and 2006 winners). The other higher league scalps Osterley claimed this year were, in no particular order: Hampstead CC, Brondesbury CC, Enfield CC, Sunbury CC, Ickenham CC and Potters Bar CC.

The 2nd XI also joined the party by winning the League Division One of the Traifinders Middlesex Cricket Championship.

Not bad for a club that was struggling in the third division after been abandon by its so-called established members in the year 2000. With no funds, no sponsorships and no home ground, the future looked bleak for Osterley Cricket Club. But one of its proud member, Shaheen Rizvi, refused to accept defeat, encouraged by his friend and fellow club member Karim Khan, he took over as the Chairman and asked his younger brother Asad Rizvi, an amazingly talented cricketer, to join him in his quest to salvage his beloved club. Asad’s contribution in transforming this club was also second to none, doing 300 miles round trip every week from Cardiff with his young family, he didn’t let Shaheen down, in fact his presence alone attracted some amazingly talented cricketers to the club.

The club moved to Richings Park in Iver, won the 2nd Division Championship and the League Cup in 2002. That’s when Shaheen decided to hand over the Club Captaincy to Asad Rizvi to concentrate on his role as the club chairman. All the hard work started to pay dividend now as Osterley won the Ibex Cup in 2004 and went even better in 2005 by winning the League. To his disappointment the club was refused promotion because of some ‘red tape’ conditions. Next year the club won the League once again. Champions twice in a row, surely the club will be promoted, but alas no! apparently we were outside the Middlesex ‘area’ and had no colt side, the runners-up were promoted to the county league but not the champions.

By now the club was gaining respect and was becoming well known within the cricketing circles. The West Indian cricket legend and world cup winner Alvin Kallicharn was now the club’s President and Shaheen was joined by a former Osterley Cricket Club Captain Amar Rathore. The dream and the aim was to bring the club back to it’s rightful place, Tentelow Lane, the ground that was home to Osterley for decades.

Shaheen and Amar managed to achieve their dream somehow, Osterley Cricket Club was back home again. The only problem was…………… the ground looked like a jungle and the club house was nothing more than a derelict house. With cricket season just a few months away and hardly any funds, the challenge now was to bring the home ground up to the accepted standards. The next couple of months showed why this club has become such a success, the support, the passion and the enthusiasm from the members was just amazing, they worked day and night, some travelled all the way from Cardiff and Leicester every weekend, some actually stayed at the club house 24/7, but the real hero was Amar, who neglected all parts of his life and worked around the clock to transform the ground and club house to its present state.
On Sunday evening, when the club was lit like a Christmas tree, music was blaring and people from all race, creed, color and religion were celebrating this incredible season like a big family, you cannot but notice the beaming smile on the face of Shaheen Rizvi, the chairman of Osterley cricket Club, as he sat outside with Asad and Amar making plans for ………. County League next season, surely?

A combination of classic batting by Shaheen Rizvi and brutal hitting by Naeem Afzal were the highlights of the match as Osterley continued their march towards a third successive title of the Middlesex League Division One. Opening the batting for the first time this season, The club’s Chairman Shaheen was a virtual bystander as Osterley’s top order came and went, perishing to inauspicious shots against Glaxo’s fast bowlers. Shaheen, who smacked some sumptuous cover drives in his innings of 62 that included 13 boundaries, finally found support from Ashraf Ali, who played another fine innings and scored 34 runs. But it was the arrival of Naeem Afzal that took the game completely away from Glaxo. Naeem scored a quick fire 87 with 3 huge sixes and 11 fours to help Osterley reach a good total of 262 for eight in their innings. Glaxo did their best to chase but in the end had to hang on for a draw with their score at 231 for eight. The Champions are now 62 points clear at the top with four league matches to go.

Abid & Laeeq inspires Osterley past Southall

Abid Ahmad hit a fantastic 60 and Laeeq Ahmad scored an aggressive 53 to lead Osterley to a four-wicket win over Southall to keep their side top of the Middlesex Division One table.

Batting first, Southall posted a decent score of 227 runs for the loss of six wickets in 55 overs. Young N Haneef was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 4 wickets for 76 runs on a sweltering day.

In reply, although Osterley lost an early wicket, Laeeq Ahmad and Ashraf Ali (35 runs) ensured Osterley were always in control. Laeeq was particularly harsh on Southall bowlers with some huge sixes on both sides of the ground. Abid joined Laeeq after Ashraf’s dismissal, and played some truly magnificent strokes all around the park, taking his team to within touching distance of the target, which the Champions achieved in the 40th over.

OSTERLEY NETS ANOTHER 30 POINTS

Brilliant batting display by Osterley’s Ashraf Ali (64) and Naeem Afzal (62 not out) set up a 96 runs victory over HARROW ST. MARY'S in Saturday’s league match. Batting first, the League Champions took the full advantage of good batting conditions in one of the rare sunny days of this summer, scoring 238 runs in 54 overs with the loss of 8 wickets. Beside Ashraf and Naeem, ever reliable Abid Ahmad chipped in with 48 wonderful runs and was very unlucky not to notch up another half century for his club. Ashraf Ali batted with his usual flair but it was Naeem who stole the show with an aggressive display of ruthless batting to demoralised the home team.

In reply Harrow St Mary’s set their stalls out for a draw, and it did looked a possibility until skipper Asad Rizvi brought himself to bowl and took 2 wickets in 2 balls to guide Osterley to a victory that keeps them on top of the league table.

Osterley maintain their place at the top of the First Division

Skipper Asad Rizvi gave another superb batting display for Osterley’s drawn match against Indian Gymkhana to keep the champions sitting firmly at the top of the table. Asad, with a breath-taking 86 runs that included 7 massive sixes and Abid Ahmad, who scored yet another half century, shared a partnership of over hundred runs to steer Osterley to a respectable 267 for 8 in their innings. In reply Indian Gymkhana could only manage 147 runs for the loss of 7 wickets.

Ruthless Osterley charge to nine-wicket win over Glaxo

A devastating bowling spell by spinner Asif Jehangir helped Osterley Cricket Club thrash Glaxo by 9 wickets in a one sided affair in the Middlesex League Division match at Tentlow Lane.

In their first visit to the Champions, Glaxo managed only 132 runs after Osterley’s skipper Asad Rizvi put the visitors in to bat. Glaxo’s batsman simply had no answer to the superb bowling of all rounder Ashraf Ali (4 for 47) and spin king Asif Jehangir, who mesmerized the batsmen with the lethal combination of line, length, turn and bounce and ended up with the magical figure of 6 for 33.

In reply, Osterley achieved the target in only 20 overs for the loss of one wickets, thanks mainly to their openers Laeeq Ahmad and Manoj Prasanga. Laeeq eventually fell for a hard hitting 40 but Manoj, celebrating his qualification as level one coach with Cricket Australia, produced a super knock in a partnership with Ashraf Ali and stayed unbeaten on 62.

ASHRAF GETS A LEGEND'S SEAL OF APPROVAL

While expressing delight on his teams victory over Southall in the league, Osterley Cricket Club’s President Alvin Kallicharn reserved special praise for ‘little master’ Ashraf Ali for his match winning innings of 63 not out. He particularly mentioned about his strong character as the young right hander shepherd his tail-enders to reach the target after the Champions were slumped to 47 for seven wickets with most of their batsman, including the great West Indian legend himself, back in the pavilion chasing a modest score of 129 posted by Southall.

“I watched Ashraf score a brilliant 158 runs last week”, said Kallicharn “ but I believe today’s innings really showed his mental strength because he was under pressure right from the time he reached the crease, to keep his concentration going for almost two hours at this level is surely a sign of a great batsman.

Earlier it was looking all rosy for Osterley as a strong looking Southall managed only 128 runs after Osterley won the toss , putting the home side in to bat. Osterley’s Sri Lankan pair Manu Dharmaraj and Manoj Sureweera bowled superbly claiming 4 for 21 and 3 for 22 respectively. It looked a mere formality for Osterley’s free scoring batsman to bag an easy victory, but as there is nothing taken for granted in the game of cricket they soon found themselves staring down the barrel with most of them back in the hut and still more than 80 runs away from the victory with only two wickets in hand. And that’s when Ashraf Ali played that special innings that made a world cup winner proud.

ASHRAF ALI SMASHES 158 AGAINST EDMONTON

Osterley Cricket Club had to settle for a winning draw despite dominating their clash against Edmonton at the weekend.
Swashbuckling batsman Ashraf Ali led the way for Osterley with a scintillating 158 runs after Edmonton put Osterley in to bat on an overcast day. Ashraf Ali and Abid Ahmad shared a century partnership after Osterley lost both their openers cheaply. Abid Ahmad contributed with 88 runs playing his trademark strokes with the minimum of fuss. Osterley smacked an imposing 322-5 in their innings but Edmonton managed to hold on desperately for the draw on 221-9 despite a superb bowling spell of 4 for 31 by Asif Jehangir.

Asif's magical spell sees off British Airways

British Airways had their wings clipped by brilliant Osterley Cricket Club on Saturday thanks to a superb exhibition of tight, crafty off spin bowling by Asif Jehangeer. Batting first British Airways got off to a flying start, scoring almost 10 runs an over. The game was slipping away slightly with the score at 80 for one in only the 8th over when the home skipper turned to the master spinner. Asif mesmerised the British Airways batsmen with his off spin and produced a magical spell of 17 overs, taking 5 wickets for only 37 runs.

Chasing 201 runs to win, Osterley were one wicket down in the very first over, but they held their nerve to reach the target in the 37th over losing six wickets along the way. M Hadgi was the star turn with an unbeaten 54 although most of the Osterley batsman made a valuable contribution.

Ashraf keeps Osterley on top

Osterley Cricket Club moved a step closer to their second Middlesex Championship League title in a row with a hard fought win over Edmonton Cricket Club on Saturday.

All rounder Ashraf Ali was the star of the show with an absolutely top draw bowling effort. He ripped through Edmonton’s batting line up and eventually finished with remarkable figures of 5-46 as the home side were shot out for 140 runs.

Ashraf Ali backed up his bowling with an excellent batting display and guided Osterley to within touching distance with a partnership of 80 runs with skipper Asad Rizvi, but his dismissal sparked a batting collapse which saw them slump to 138-8, and it was a big relief when they finally reached the target in the 34th over.

OSTERLEY CONTINUES WINNING STREAK BY BRUSHING ASIDE SOUTHALL

Osterley Cricket Club are almost as hot as the current tropical weather at the moment, they extended their winning run with an 8 wickets victory over Southall on Saturday. It was Osterley’s eighth straight win to stay at the top of the TRAILFINDERS Middlesex Cricket Championship division one.

Batting first, Southall could only muster 147 runs all out thanks to some excellent bowling from all-rounder Ashraf Ali, who claimed 6 for 44 runs and Asif ‘the deadly’ Jehangir, who once again bowled superbly to grab 4 for 23 , he has now taken 15 wickets in the last three matches.

In reply, Osterley’s captain Asad Rizvi led his team from the front by scoring 70 runs, in which all but three runs were scored in boundaries, Asad was supported by the man of the match Ashraf Ali, scoring 40 undefeated runs in addition to his excellent bowling, thus guiding Osterley to a comfortable win.

Asif sends Old Actonian spinning with 6-41

Osterley Cricket Club recorded their seventh consecutive win of the season by defeating Old Actonians Cricket Club by 4 wickets to stay firmly at the top of the league. Once again the star of the show was off spinner Asif Jehangir, who went one better than last week’s five wickets haul by claiming six wickets for just 41 runs in this match. Asif’s tight, accurate and deadly bowling restricted Old Actonians to 195 runs in 55 overs for the loss of 9 wickets.

Although Osterley got off to a good start, thanks mainly to Ashraf Ali’s magnificent 80 not out, the run rate was always climbing, giving Old Actonians hope that they might snatch a draw out of this game, but in walked Alvin Kalicharan, the legendry West Indian batsman, and the few who watched his batting witnessed something special, he rolled back the years by smashing the ball to all parts including one of the biggest sixes ever seen on this ground and his knock of 38 runs off only 23 balls turned the game in Osterley’s favour, allowing them to reach the target with four wickets and eight balls of the match to spare.

Calthorpe Bamboozled by Asif as Osterley marches on

Asif Jehangir produced one of the finest display of controlled off spin bowling by taking five wickets against Calthorpe as Osterley won their sixth consecutive game on the trot to stay at the top of the league.

Asked to bat first on a scorching hot day, Osterley’s batsmen took full advantage of a good batting wicket and scored 292 runs for the loss of four wickets at a blistering pace, which enabled skipper Asad Rizvi to declare their innings at the 46th over, thus gaining almost ten extra overs in which to bowl the opposition out. The stars of the innings were Hadgi, who was unlucky not to record his first century for the club when he was out for a superb 91 and little Manoj Persanga who continued his great batting form by scoring a chanceless 88 runs.

In reply Calthorpe Cricket Club found no answers to Asif’s bowling, the off-spinner bowled in a crafty fashion. He got the ball to turn both ways, used the crease well, and brought about subtle changes in flight and pace in an exhibition of high-quality off-spin bowling, finishing the match with the incredible figures of five wickets for only sixteen runs in 14.3 overs. As a result the home team could only manage 143 runs to hand Osterley their sixth win in a row.

Smashing Asad punishes Harrow St Mary’s bowlers to setup fifth successive win

A breathtaking batting knock by skipper Asad Rizvi helped Osterley to secure their fifth successive win of the season at Richings Park. Chasing a target of 225 posted by Harrow St Marys, Asad smashed first four balls of the opening over from the visitors to the boundaries, he destroyed Harrow St Marys bowling attack with a flurry of aggressive shots and raced to his fifty in only 19 balls, Asad was finally out for 70 to the relief of the opposition’s hapless bowlers, and even though they tried to fight back, the damage was already done and Osterley cruised to the victory in the 42nd over.