Club Special
We ask: what has happened to the post-match pint?
FIRST there was Nasser and then there was Reece – the Hussain family name could live on in county cricket if last week’s evidence was anything to go by.
Reece Hussain, nephew of former England skipper Nasser, knocked an unbeaten 104 from 115 balls as Bishop’s Stortford racked up 330-3 in a comfortable victory over Botany Bay in the Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League.
And captain Eddie Ballard had the best view in the house, putting on 189 with Hussain for the second wicket, making a century of his own at Cricketfield Lane.
“It was a joy to watch him from the other end,” said Ballard. “He made batting look extremely easy at times, which is pretty impressive for someone of his age, and he was careful not to go too hard too fast, hence why he remained not out.
“He’s an exceptionally impressive talent. He’s already been around the Oxford MCCU setup as well as starting the season well for Hertfordshire in Minor Counties cricket.
“But I reckon he can go further than that, he has the capabilities to play county cricket, so long as he keeps it up.”
Hussain opened up with twin half-centuries for Herts against Bedfordshire and Suffolk, but registered just 20 in his first two innings for Stortford.
His recent century mirrored the fortunes of his side, winless until now, while Hussain also hit 151 and 118 for the club last year, both in August.
Ballard also picked out overseas talent Matthew Kuhnemann, a 19-year-old legspinner on Queensland’s books
“He’s such a promising talent, someone we’re really keen on in terms of development,” Ballard said of a man who featured at Australia U19 level. “It’s going to be exciting to see how he goes.”
Elsewhere, it was a good day for Daniel Freeman in Lincolnshire, taking 7-31 and registering 61 not out for Grantham, while Sri Lankan international Prasanna Jayawardene made 50 for Woodhall Spa. There were hundreds aplenty in the North East, with Joseph Coyne and Durham’s Gordon Muchall making centuries in Whitburn and Southsea’s draw, while John Graham made 108 for South Northumberland.
Fleetwood’s commanding home win over Penrith keeps them top of the Northern thanks to a quickfire 48 from Adam Parker, while Marske preserved their unbeaten North Yorkshire & South Durham season, beating Barnard Castle. Defending champions Chelmsford cruised past bottom side Chingford with Jack Sterland hitting an unbeaten century but Wanstead and Snaresbrook top Essex after beating South Woodford.
The West of England was hit by rain with all games abandoned, as was South Wales, while Reigate Priory and Sunbury remain locked together at the top of Surrey after narrow victories. In the only completed Birmingham & District match, opener James Middleton smashed 69 in a 108-run rout of Walmley to guide Walsall into top spot.
In Sussex, Preston Nomads’ draw with Bexhill was the league’s only completed game. Staffordshire had no completed games either, while Appleby Frodingham won the only Yorkshire South clash thanks to Matt Fowler’s unbeaten 164.
In Liverpool and District, Rainhill’s Mohammad Aslam Qureshi took five wickets in defeat to Birkenhead Park, taking his season tally to 25, while Graham Bolton took his first five-for since 2007 in New Brighton’s defeat to Formby.