Spencer 234-7

Old Whitgiftians 207

Spencer won by 27 runs

Old Whitgiftians let slip a glorious opportunity to take the points against Spencer as they lost by 27 runs at Croham Road on Saturday.

Murtaza Hussain (51) and Robbie Smith (24 not out) were in control of the Spencer attack and at 197-6 OW's needed 38 from the last eight overs but a superb piece of fielding from Krishna Sivakumaran ran out Murtaza with a direct hit at the non-strikers end from the mid-wicket boundary attempting a second run from a no ball.

The same fielder had earlier brilliantly run out Ahmad Raja who had taken a risky quick single to short extra.

Less than 10 minutes after Murtaza's run out, OW's were all out for 207 with their day summed up by the last wicket dismissal of Harshil Patel, run out backing up as the ball brushed George Edwards hand as Robbie Smith smashed the free hit back at the bowler!

Earlier Ali Ayyub (23), Alex Goward (24), Ali Raja (22) and skipper Sean Coughlan (29) all contributed but it was Murtaza who looked a class act before his run out.

Jimmy Birt (2-35) bowled a good spell at the top of the innings for Spencer but it was the medium pace of Abid Jafri (2-32) which applied pressure at the key time.

Spencer's innings of 234-7 owed much to a patient knock of 51 from Andrew Mawson but OW's were on top until the batting powerplay which Spencer took at 175-7 after 45 overs.

With the opening attack bowled out it was left to Alex Goward to bowl at the death and his figures suffered as Spencer plundered 49 from the last three overs thanks to a great unbeaten stand of 69 between Patrick Turk with an unbeaten 54 in just 39 minutes, supported well by Abid Jafri with 22 not out.

Luke Fisher (2-48) and Murtaza (2-30) were the pick of the home attack.