The last round of results in the 2024 league season ended up being a pretty good mirror on the season as a whole. One impressive win (for the thirds), but four other performances that were decidedly underwhelming.

That ranged from a dismal batting display by the ones to contests where the Ts were always likely to end up coming off second best. Disappointing.

First XI crumble to defeat at Lonsdale Road
The ones’ ended their season with a 93 run defeat against Barnes (see here for the card). That alone doesn’t sound great, but when it’s remembered that the Ts were only chasing 140 to win then things quickly sound much worse.

Baz Street was the star man for Barnes, coming in at nine and scoring 39. For the Ts, both Angus McKenzie (3-27) and Nikhil Nomula (3-28) did some damage with the ball, whilst Carlos Nunes (2-28) and Adam Mather (2-16) also chipped in nicely.

Batting-wise, things went disastrously for the Ts. In the end, only three players got into double-figures and one of them was McKenzie, batting at number 11. Baz Street was the man who caught the eye with the ball; he took an eye-watering 5-4 as the Ts collapsed like a pack of cards.

The win for Barnes means that they stay up. Just. They end eighth, one point ahead of Southgate. The Ts end the campaign 6th.

Twos end with a defeat on the Green
The twos knew from the beginning of the day that they were likely to be in for a tough afternoon. So it proved (see here for the card).

Blake van der Linde’s side batted first and put 117 on the board. James Smith was the lynchpin of that, digging in for a 76 ball 25. The skipper, who also found himself keeping wicket for the day, hit 22 (49 balls) and Eugene Berger (26 off 54) also got into the 20s before Tomos Innes snared the club chairman.

Barnes decided that the best way to chase the total down was to go big and go quick. Innes hit 64 (53 balls), while Luke Timmins was 35no (25 balls) at stumps. The young trio of Ali Jennings, Oliver Prescott-Brann and Thomas Hopkins all picked up wickets, but Barnes got home with plenty to spare.

Captain Marvel does all he can for the 3s, but it’s not quite enough
The thirds knew that if they were to avoid relegation then they needed to beat Harrow Town and hope North London slipped up against Hampstead. The first part of that happened, the second did not (see here for the card).

Skipper Robbie Bosier, a man who has had a mightily impressive campaign, stepped up to ensure that Twickenham weren’t chasing many. Bosier bowled like a demon, ending with 6-26 (off 12) as Harrow Town mustered 82. Hinay Dassani also impressed, coming in with 2-24 off 10. Rehan Navqi and Frankie Lingeman were also in the wickets.

In reply Rajdeep Chaudhry and Oli George both got into double figures, but it was Dev Tomlinson and Mark Smith (two balls, two boundaries) who were there at the end. Job done.

The 3s can ultimately count themselves a bit unlucky. There can’t be many sides in the history of the MCCL that have been relegated with 87 points. They will re-group and look to bounce back in 2025.

Actonians too strong for the 4s
The fours knew they were in for a tough afternoon against Actonians and so it transpired (see here for the card).

Actonians batted first and put 243 on the board. Opener David Whear added 99, before being given out leg before. One hopes that the decision really was plumb!

Shah Bozdar was the man who removed Whear and he again was the star turn with the ball. He ended with 3-47. Zain Bozdai (2-41) and Salim Salam (also 2-41) bowled nicely, debutant Itsham ul Hussan (2-38) also chipped in.

ul Hussan caught the eye with the bat, too. He added a quick fire 27 (off just 15 balls). Shah Bozdar (19 off 25) and Liam Tebb also hung around, but the Ts never seriously threatened to chase Actonians’ score down. Much like the 3s, the 4s will also use the winter to re-group and go again in 2025.

Lloyd Townsend bowls nicely, but fives come off second best
The 5s ended their season with a game against already promoted SKLPC (see here for the card).

Zafar Ali (23) and Jon Bosier (21) battled gamely for the Ts, Ryan Oakes (19) and Chinni Devabhaktuni (14) also did what they could. Between them they led the Ts to a respectable 126 all out.

Nihal Halai led the charge for SKLPC, hitting a neat 52. Narendra Hirani also batted nicely, and that in the face of Lloyd Townsend (3-25) doing all he could to keep SKLPC in check.

The 5s may have lost, but they live to fight another day. They maintain their status as a Division 5B side in 2025. The fours will be joining them there next season; if nothing else we have two magnificent ‘derbies’ to look forward to there.