Another weekend of senior cricket brought contrasting results across the five Falcons sides, with the 2nd XI and 5th XI securing important victories, the 3rd XI continuing their promotion push, and plenty of individual performances and lessons to take into the next round of fixtures.

1st XI — Mo’ Amin

It was a tough day at the office for the 1st XI, despite going into the week with plenty of positivity and a desire to rediscover the form that had served the side so well through the middle of the season.

Losing the toss at Belhus, the Falcons were asked to bat first on a tricky track which offered plenty of assistance to the home attack. Hasnain Akram and Danial Mahmood made useful starts, but Frenford struggled to build the partnerships needed to establish a competitive total.

Enter Fazal Rehman.

Batting with composure and determination, Fazal produced an outstanding innings, finishing unbeaten on 120 from 117 balls, having spent 159 minutes at the crease. His century gave the innings the impetus it desperately needed and helped Frenford reach 264, although ultimately the feeling was that the total was under par.

With our own attack always capable of making the game competitive, there was still belief that a few early wickets could change the contest.

However, Belhus’ knowledge of their home conditions proved valuable. Their number one produced a century of his own and, with good support around him, the hosts navigated the Frenford attack and completed the chase with a few overs to spare.

A difficult result, but another opportunity to learn as the season enters its business

2nd XI — Hamza Mahmud

A superb performance from the 2nd XI produced a convincing win over Chingford.

Winning the toss and electing to bowl, Frenford made the perfect start, taking early wickets and keeping the pressure firmly on the visitors.

The attack continued to chip away throughout the innings, with Adnan Choudhry taking four wickets, Zuhaib Shahid three, Hassan Saeed two and Haroon Zakria one, as Chingford were dismissed for 149 after 42 overs.

The chase was positive from the outset.

Frenford reached the target in just 23 overs, finishing on 150/4, with contributions throughout the top order.

Ahmed Zulfiqar led the way with an excellent 45 from 28 balls, ensuring there was never any real doubt about the outcome.

A complete performance from the 2nd XI and exactly the kind of result they will want to build on.

3rd XI — Khuram Dar

“Cricket is not about how hard you can hit the ball. It’s about how hard you can get hit and go again.”

Village Cricket Pie Chucker.

Vice Captain Khuram Dar once again led the boys out at Frenford as the 3rd XI continued their promotion push against bottom side Harold Wood.

Having won the toss and elected to field, the aim was to restrict the visitors to around 200. Instead, Harold Wood reached 250, but the work done early in the innings proved invaluable.

After 22 overs HW were 82/4, before an excellent partnership set them up for the final ten overs. The heat, the lightning outfield and the time spent retrieving balls from Narnia all played their part.

For Khuram, however, the bigger picture remains the most important thing.

The 3rd XI have now shown they can win games in different ways. They have won when they have not been at their best, utilised the entire squad for different scenarios and, above all, developed a combination of hunger, desire and an unshakable belief that has been worked on relentlessly.

The Colts

Ayaan, “K Junior”, on his debut, immediately showed why everyone needs to pay attention. His opening spell was full of accuracy, pace and consistency, allowing wickets to fall at the other end.

With the bat, he showed excellent match awareness, helping rebuild the innings before playing important roles in partnerships with Zulfi and Zain.

And then there was Ayaan.

As Khuram put it:

“They say the best players always have time. Ayaan has Bernard’s watch when batting.”

A flick for six, taken from outside off stump, was pure poetry in motion.

Saif once again showed his natural ability and, more importantly, the culmination of the work being put in behind the scenes.

Despite an upset stomach and dehydration, he pushed through the pain barrier to produce a spell which stopped Harold Wood’s momentum. His fielding at point also created a crucial run-out, before he came out to help see the team home, rotating the strike and turning ones into twos.

Another piece of the Bermuda Triangle of Spin, Saif has now contributed significantly to eight wins during the 3rd XI’s 11-match unbeaten run.

Hence, perhaps inevitably: Saif-Belief.

Agent Zulfi produced his best all-round performance of the season, combining a masterclass with the new ball and at the death with controlled and naturally timed batting.

Atif once again showed why he is a captain’s dream, applying the brakes whenever the opposition threatened momentum and doing exactly what the team needed.

And Zain, once again adapting to a new role, provided the fire and fury required to accelerate the innings when it mattered.

“I love it when a plan comes together. But without these individuals it would just be scribbles on paper.”

The 3rd XI now go into their next game knowing that one more win will secure promotion.

But, as Khuram says:

“We take it ball by ball, over by over and day by day.”

UP THE 3s!!!!!!

4th XI — Robert Rollins

After last week’s excellent victory, Robert Rollins was back at the helm as the young 4th XI travelled to face league leaders Walthamstow — arguably their toughest assignment of the season.

Losing the toss, the hosts put Frenford into bat, trusting their local knowledge on a tricky surface.

The young Falcons battled hard but were eventually dismissed for 177 from 42 overs.

Ami and Shoaib both made useful starts, but the young side could not find the partnerships needed to turn those starts into a substantial total.

With the pitch green, grassy, uneven and two-paced, and with the weather making it important to protect the wicket, there was little on offer for Frenford’s spin-heavy attack.

The responsibility therefore fell heavily on the seamers, with Bhavymeet Singh and Imran Ali Khan tasked with making the early inroads.

Walthamstow’s openers put together an 80-run partnership, leaving Frenford on the back foot, although wickets continued to fall throughout the innings.

There were positives.

Imran’s second spell was excellent and nearly dragged Frenford back into the contest, while Bhavy’s late swing again caused problems.

After last week’s exemplary fielding display, this was an area where the young Falcons know they can improve, with some unnecessary runs ultimately adding to the pressure.

A tough assignment against the league leaders, but another valuable experience for a young side continuing to develop in senior cricket.

We go again next week.

5th XI — Suleman Kazi

With Razi Siddiqui away, Suleman Kazi stepped into the captaincy role and led the youngest senior side to a much-needed and thoroughly deserved victory over Ilford.

On a tough pitch, Frenford won the toss and elected to bat first.

Despite fielding another very young side, the Falcons handled the conditions brilliantly to post a competitive 191.

Amaan Khoda set the tone with a stubborn and brave 35, while Sabeeh Abid provided valuable support at the top of the order.

Then came Muhammad Vahora.

His aggressive 57 came quickly and changed the complexion of the innings, with Suleman noting that he “looked like he was batting on a different pitch to everyone else.”

With the ball, every bowler played their part as Frenford steadily chipped away at the Ilford batting order.

The finishing touch came from Harsh Patel, who produced an excellent spell to claim four wickets and seal a 46-run victory.

For a young team still learning the demands of senior cricket, this was an important result — and one that should provide plenty of confidence for what lies ahead.

More Than Results

Across the five teams, this weekend demonstrated exactly what senior cricket at Frenford is becoming.

There are established senior players delivering match-winning performances, experienced heads guiding the next generation, and young Falcons increasingly taking responsibility in situations that would have been unfamiliar only a few months ago.

For the 3rd XI, promotion is now within touching distance.

For the 2nd and 5th XIs, important wins provide momentum.

For the 1st and 4th XIs, there are lessons to take forward.

And perhaps most importantly, the message remains consistent:

Do not get carried away by the highs, and do not be defined by the lows.

There is still plenty to play for.

Together as One. United as Frenford.