Days Report by Amit Gudka

(Left to right): Amit Gudka, Arthur DeBorman, Minesh Patel, James Gordon Grindrod, Alex Gibson (in pure ecstasy)  

Saturday 19th July proved to be a day that will live long in the sporting memory.

Japan claimed one of the biggest scalps of all time in the Rugby World Cup, Diego Costa wound up and beat Arsenal,  Luton saw off Mansfield Town and the mighty BLCC recorded their 6th victory in a row at the inaugural end of season NELCL 6-a-side tournament.

As always, GB came en masse. 

BLCC’s first game, and quarter final, was against Clapton and Oval. Sensing trouble with only captain Caius Pawson and MVL contender James Gordon Grindrod,being at the ground with the game about to start, C&O won the toss and elected to bat first. C&O kindly leant BLCC a couple of fielders whilst the remainder of the team arrived.

Skipper Pawson opened the bowling on the most sodden pitch of the season and managed to restrict the C&O openers whilst Amit Gudka recovered from being 11 runs down of 1 ball to respectable figures. Grindrod, Ensor and Patel all chipped in with wickets, assisted by expert fielding from specialist De Borman meaning that C&O were held to a chase-able 56 of 5 overs.

Openers Alex Gibson and Jack Ensor quickly set about knocking off the runs, with Ensor racing to a classy 30 not out (and forced retirement) complete with a selection of vibesy switch hits. The only blip was an uncharacteristic 0 from key man Grindrod, which left it to Pawson and Gudka to bring it home. Pawson’s 2 of the last ball was particularly cultured and added to a highly respectable average for the season.

A perfect a day as they come

The Lads were left with 90 minutes to contemplate who they would face in the next round. An administrative fail meant that no team was actually knocked out in the first round of matches and BLCC were drawn against Stoke Newington in the real quarter-final. It was a carnival atmosphere down at Millfields Park with old friends and foes from the NELCL reconnecting after a grueling season, all with a new found respect and love for each other. BLCC celebrated the sixth win of the season with Bloody Oranges and stare-offs with the Stokey squad.

BLCC lost the toss and were put into bat by Stoke Newington. Danger man Jack Ensor was out cheaply attempting another switch-hit of Stokey talisman Scott Doody. Solomun and Patel batted well against a tight Stoke Newington bowling attack to get BLCC to a respectable 45. This proved to be too few and Stoke Newington managed to wrap up victory with an over to spare.

Beaten but not bowed, We Walked Away With Everything

The real fireworks were just about to begin. Fresh from winning the league, GB Strikers took on Stoke Newington and Strikers’ hitman Zubair Ghurdiwala treated the delirious NELCL fans to a display of batting rarely experienced on the Hackney parks.  It was fitting that exactly 8 years after Yuvraj Singh sent Stuart Broad for 36 off 6 balls, Zubair scored an unbelievable 39 of Scott Doody’s over and Strikers cruised into the final, where they would play sister side GB UK (apparently now called GB Bouncers)

Amit Guda and Caius Pawson with the Pride of Hackney Zubair Ghurdiwala (centre).

With the light failing, the umpires called for a bowl off, which disappointingly ended with only 1 hit out of 10 deliveries. GB Bouncers were jubilant with their 6 a side win, whilst Strikers lifted their well deserved league trophy. The only disappointment was that the Zingers didn’t get any more action.

The September light begins to fail us and the finals becomes a bowl off.

The Lads joined a number of the league’s finest characters at the Royal Sovereign, where they were treated to stories of how well they had been received by their opposition during their second season in the NELCL. It was a fitting end to a fine season.

GB Strikers and GB Bouncers celebrate their respective wins (40 over League win and 6-a-side Tournament

Baring Up’s own Robin waxing lyrical about his love for the Bloody Lads x

Bloody Lad’s Man of the Tournament: Despite trying to reverse sweep a straight pie off Scott Doody and throwing a way our innings against Stoke Newington, Jack Ensor has to have it for a destructive 30* in the first match, a great catch at Long On against Clapton & Oval and a couple of destructive overs of bowling.