Tower Hamlets Cricket Development Officer Jahid Ahmed took his U13 District team to Lords Cricket Ground on Sunday, to mix it with the elite of London Cricket – and they came within a whisker of pulling off a major upset.
The Tower Hamlets team were considered outsiders for the title of “best U13 cricket team in London” as they came up against sides which included county youth players and had superior experience. However, Jahid’s background as a professional cricketer (he is the only British-Bangladeshi to play First Class Cricket) is clearly rubbing off on his young charges.
The squad, which featured the eight best cricketers from across Tower Hamlets, had previously come through a stiff qualifying group which saw victories over Havering, Newham and Barking & Dagenham.
This led to Tower Hamlets’ first game at the Lord’s Indoor Cricket School on Sunday: a quarter final clash with Ealing. The game was won by eleven runs, largely thanks to a solid foundation set by Basit Ahmed (St Paul’s Way) and Mahaz Riaz (Swanlea), who both retired with 20s. Kamrul Amin (Swanlea) and Abdal Miah (Wapping High) then led a miserly bowling attack which gradually deflated the Ealing chase.
This set up an all-East London semi final against former champions Redbridge, whose players and vociferous supporters were confident of victory.
Tower Hamlets captain Basit Ahmed elected to bowl first and Abdal Miah again made an early breakthrough – but it was a solid team bowling effort which restricted defending champions Redbridge to 107. The chase would be tough against arguably the best bowling attack in the competition, but Basit Ahmed and Mahaz Riaz formed another excellent partnership which saw 53 runs added for the 2nd wicket before both retired in quick succession. Abutahid Dulal took up the gauntlet, but a flurry of late wickets brought Redbridge back into the contest. It was then up to the returning Basit Ahmed to lead his side to a pulsating victory as he moved his own score on to 47 and passed the Redbridge total with three balls to spare.
The energy-sapping semi-final was to prove a hindrance to Tower Hamlets’ championship ambitions, as a subdued batting performance against a polished Hillingdon team led to a total of just 90 runs. A similarly lacklustre bowling display followed, and with their North West London opponents manoeuvring the ball around expertly, the Tower Hamlets team were dispatched to the silver medalist position with five balls remaining.
Nevertheless, team manager Jahid Ahmed reflected on an excellent campaign: “I am so proud of these boys. They showed a lot of character to get to the final as there were some excellent cricketers on display. We have worked really hard with the group but Ealing, Redbridge and Hillingdon all have Premier League cricket clubs whose higher standards enable local children to progress quicker and further. It is a testament to the excellent link we have with Blackheath Cricket Club that we have been able to make up the difference and give our boys an equal chance of making it in the game.”
This year’s U13 team includes five Year 7 students who can play at this age group again in 2016: watch out for even better things to come!