It's over for champions Radlett

13 April 2012

Radlett's reign as the kings of London club cricket is over.

The Hertfordshire side, winners of the Evening Standard Challenge Trophy at The Oval last September, tumbled to a third-round defeat against Spencer in the 50-over tournament which features the London area's leading 108 teams.

The Surrey League leaders from Wandsworth had stand-in captain Imraan Mohammed to thank for their convincing six-wicket victory.

The 27-year-old former Cambridge University and Gloucestershire opening batsman, deputising as skipper for the injured Khawar Saleem, showed his pedigree with an innings of 94 as Spencer cruised past the defending champions' total of 198 with 5.4 overs to spare.

Imraan and his younger brother Salman, who also plays for Spencer, are part of one of cricket's great dynasties. Their father is former Pakistan and Gloucestershire left-hander Sadiq while their uncles are Hanif and Mushtaq Mohammed. Between them, the three brothers played in 153 Tests for their country.

"Imraan led the side really well and it was a fine all-round performance," said Saleem, who was resting a muscle injury. "He was inches away from a century because he was caught right on the boundary going for a six."

Spencer were today drawn at home to Hainault & Clayhall in the fourth round on 18 July. The Essex side are one of four teams still involved in both the Evening Standard and the Cockspur Cup national knockout.

They visit High Wycombe next Sunday for a place in the quarter-finals of the national, while Hampstead and Finchley will contest their delayed fifth-round tie.

High Wycombe booked their place in the last 16 with an easy win against Cheam. Paul Sawyer hit a century and Chris Sketchley cleaned up with five wickets for 10 runs.

Hampstead dashed Teddington's hopes of a cup double as openers Gary Headley (112) and Mark Harvey (84) put on 194 for the first wicket to set up a 54-run victory over the belowstrength former champions.

Teddington, forced to play their delayed national group final on the same day, wheeled out their big guns to crush Gidea Park by nine wickets, with the English Cricket Board's marketing director Tom Harrison hitting 70.

Evening Standard Challenge Trophy third-round: Bromley (109-4) bt Tring Park (108) by six wickets, Bexley (214-8) bt Brondesbury (206) by eight runs, Ealing (259-8) bt Enfield (210) by 49 runs, Hainault & Clayhall (311-6) bt Met Police (165) by 146 runs, Hampstead (272) bt Teddington (218) by 54 runs, High Wycombe (288-8) bt Cheam (168) by 120 runs, Dulwich (225) bt Ickenham (155) by 70 runs, Malden Wanderers (234) bt Maori-Oxshott (111) by 123 runs, Old Emanuel (124-1) bt Hornchurch (122) bt nine wickets, Walton-on-Thames (147-3) bt Richmond (146) by seven wickets, Wimbledon (70-1) bt Shepherd's Bush (69) by nine wickets, S Woodford (252-9) bt Sunbury (250) by two runs, Spencer (199-4) bt Radlett (198-8) by six wickets, Wanstead (252) bt Ardleigh Green (202) by 50 runs, Finchley (186-8) bt Weybridge (174) by 12 runs, Winchmore Hill (193-6) bt Sutton (192-5) by four wickets.

Fourth-round draw (18 July): Wimbledon v Ealing, Old Emanuel v High Wycombe, Winchmore Hill v Hampstead, Wanstead v Bromley, Spencer v Hainault & Clayhall, Bexley v Dulwich, Malden W v Finchley, S Woodford v Walton-on-Thames.

Other dates: quarter-finals 1 August, semi-finals 15 August, final (Shenley Cricket Centre) 12 September.

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It's over for champions Radlett

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