Irfan Shah

Hainault & Clayhall 332-6 beat Fives & Heronians 212 all out by 120 runs

Hainault & Clayhall skipper Zoheb Sharif praised his team after their impressive derby win at Fives & Heronians in Shepherd Neame Essex League Division One on Saturday.

Fives & Heronians won the toss and decided to bat.

They were immediately up against it as Sharif’s men rebuffed the attack and set about producing a series of match-winning partnerships, with Suleman Qadir posting an unbeaten knock of 124.

But the hosts refused to roll over, and despite chasing Hainault’s formidable total of 332, they produced a solid batting display that on another day may have seen them through.

But on this occasion, the target proved to be too great, and Sharif’s men won the day.

“It was a very good performance,” said Sharif who was part of the Hainault side in 2006 that won the Premier Division and has returned to the club this season to get them back to the top flight.

“Again we batted first and put on quite a big score,” he continued.

“It was more of 240-run sort of wicket, but we got on a roll and produced some big partnerships and that was what paid dividends for us.

“Suleman Qadir is our overseas player. He is the son of Abdul Qadir, the international player. Suleman is a good all-rounder, but he is a match-winner with the bat and ball.

“We know that if we play anything like we should do we can dominate the league this season.

“If we can win our first four or five games, that will put us in a strong position.

“The weather will also be crucial for us too as if we hit a hot, dry spell our spinners will really come to the fore.

“We are the team to beat in this league. Every team that plays us will want to come at us hard.

“We have got the squad and the talent to go all the way.”

Opener Irfan Shah (51) got the Hainault innings underway, batting in partnership with skipper Sharif (12) who last week bagged 66 runs in their opening-day victory over Upminster.

The skipper didn’t last so long this time and was caught by Phillip Apps off Gregg Summers (1-43).

But it mattered not as Atif Zafar (49) proved to be an able replacement, before Suleman (124) stepped in to take the game by the scruff of the neck.

The international player stayed in for the remainder of the innings, forming profitable partnerships with Ashfaq Ahmed (22), Ryan Hurst (21) and Sachin Vaja (19) to take them to 332 off their allotted 50 overs.

In reply, Fives & Heronians made a good start as Terry Ballard (42) provided a solid platform, batting in partnership with Gary Edwards (44).

Balllard fell to Ashfaq Ahmed (1-33) when caught by Atif Zahar and Edwards was bowled by Ryan Hurst (4-30).

But the hosts refused to roll over and Apps put on 11 runs, in partnership with Marques Ackerman (24), until Apps was caught off Irfan Shah’s (1-21) bowling and Ackerman was run out.

But still Fives pressed on. Pete Kilpatrick (26) and Ben Britton (16) both postedhealthy totals, before they were removed by Sachin Vaja (3-31).

Tenth man Ryan Cunningham added 19 runs, but ultimately the target proved beyond them.

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