Young team could keep trophy tally going
CRICKET
EASTCOTE U10s secured the Sir Gubby Allen Trophy for the second year running by beating Stoke Newington at the Nursery Ground at Lord’s.
They would be odds-on favourites for the hat-trick next year after this 12-run triumph, with a number of nine-year-olds in the squad.
Captain Suraj Shankar won the toss and put the Hackney team into bat, who reached 261-6 net in 16 overs of play.
Opening batsmen Rohan Battila and Shankar hit a combined total of net 37 in their four overs, before the Middlesex team ran up a total of net 273 to retain the trophy.
Ickenham have been relegated to the Middlesex Championship despite beating visitors North London by 64 runs on Saturday.
Greg Knowles took 6-54 as the hosts, who had reached 195-9 declared, bowled out their opponents for 131. However, as South Hampstead beat Harrow Town, Ickenham lost their place in Middlesex County League Division Three.
Uxbridge (172 all out) just missed league rivals Uxbridge and Northwood – the Reds take on Bedfont and Feltham, and the Woods travel to Barton Rovers.
Both teams were in action yesterday evening against North out on promotion from Division Two, finishing third despite a 78run win over Brentham (94 all out). Eastcote (266-9) signed off with a 70-run triumph over Shepherd’s Bush (196 all out).
Old Merchant Taylors’ (268-7) were crowned Thames Valley League Division 3B champions after their 145-run victory over Beaconsfield seconds (123 all out), and Hayes (78-8) finished their season with a two-wicket win against Chiswick and Latymer (77 all out).
In Division 4A, Ruislip (178-6) escaped the drop by overcoming Cookham Dean seconds (175 all out), and Hillingdon Manor (179 all out) lost by four wickets to Chesham thirds (180-6).
Harefield (262-7) secured a vital win to avoid relegation from Home Counties Premier Division One as they beat Banbury (247 all out) by 15 runs.
In Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League Division Two, Northwood (246-7) finished the season with a 60-run triumph over Watford Town (186 all out), and in Division Three already relegated Northwood Town (131-7) beat Stevenage seconds (129 all out) by three wickets.