The 1st XI kicked off their league campaign with an away fixture against Barking CC after the hosts won the toss and elected to bat first. Frenford started superbly with the ball, as Hussey and Ejaz produced disciplined opening spells, consistently hitting strong areas and applying pressure from the outset. Early wickets helped put the brakes on the Barking innings, with Ejaz returning excellent figures of 3-35, while Hussey backed him up brilliantly with 3-25.

The pressure never eased thanks to impressive supporting spells from Patrik and Fazal, with Patrik especially effective as he finished with outstanding figures of 2-22. A complete bowling performance from the side saw Barking dismissed for just 141 runs.

In reply, Frenford approached the chase confidently, with Mo Ahmed and Sibet Hussain laying the perfect platform through an excellent opening partnership. Mo Ahmed led the innings superbly with a composed 49, while Sibet contributed an important 32 to guide the side comfortably towards victory.

Overall, it was an excellent all-round performance and a brilliant way for the 1st XI to begin the league season.

2ND XI – Hamza Mahmud (Capt)

The 2s were at home against Buckhurst Hill after losing the toss and being asked to field first. The lads produced a disciplined bowling performance to restrict the opposition to 242/8 from their 45 overs, with Bash leading the way brilliantly with four crucial wickets. Mo Rahim, Uzaifa and Umer were exceptional in the field and kept the pressure on throughout.

In reply, Haroon and Hamza produced an outstanding opening partnership of 188 runs which completely set the tone for the chase. From there, Uzaifa and Hasnain finished the game off in style, securing victory with 15 overs to spare in a dominant all-round performance from the side.

3RD XI – Waqqas Naqvi (Capt)

The 3s travelled away to Gidea Park and started brilliantly with the bat. A composed 50 from Zulfi alongside an important contribution from Atif helped the side reach 119/1 and put us firmly in control of the game.

Unfortunately, a difficult middle-order collapse saw us slip to 144/7 before the lower order rallied superbly to drag the innings to 207. We felt that we were probably 30–40 runs short overall, but the effort in the field kept us fighting throughout. Vishal picked up three wickets and the team showed excellent spirit and energy in the field, taking the game right down to the final over.

A frustrating result in the end, but plenty of positives to build on heading into next week’s home fixture against Orsett 3s.

4TH XI – Rob Rollins (Capt)

The 4s welcomed Walthamstow CC to Frenford in a competitive game that perfectly reflected the spirit and development of this side. After being put under pressure early on, the team continued to battle throughout, with the younger players once again stepping up and showing real character across the afternoon. There were strong contributions throughout the innings and moments of genuine quality in the field, with the group refusing to let the game drift at any stage.

What continues to stand out is the commitment, attitude and willingness of this squad to compete together. The blend of experience and youth is beginning to grow week by week, and while the result may not have gone our way, there were plenty of positives to take from the performance heading into next weekend.

5TH XI – Razi Siddiqui (Capt)

A tough result for the 5s in a closely fought contest, but another game full of character and fight from a very young side. After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, the team recovered well from a difficult start thanks to an important partnership between Ibraheem and Irfan, while Imran played a composed innings to help the side post 146.

With the ball, the youngsters competed brilliantly and never stopped fighting. Bhavyameet and Hafeez were outstanding and helped keep the game alive throughout the innings. Despite a few close decisions going against the side, the team continued to battle hard and produced another strong collective effort full of energy and determination.

KESTRELS 1ST XI

Unfortunately, the Kestrels 1st XI fixture was conceded by the opposition this weekend, meaning the side were unable to take to the field. While disappointing for the players, the group now turns its focus towards next weekend and continuing the strong momentum being built within the women’s section at Frenford CC.

KESTRELS 2ND XI – Diana Tasi (Capt)

After winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, the Kestrels 2nd XI made a fantastic start with the ball. Early wickets from Elina and Krisha helped restrict the opposition to 146 and set the tone for an excellent effort in the field. Haleema also impressed behind the stumps with a very strong wicketkeeping performance throughout the innings.

In reply, the side lost a few early wickets, but Amina and Diana helped steady the innings and rebuild the chase before Krisha produced an excellent late batting contribution to keep the side fighting. Despite the effort and determination shown across the innings, the team ultimately fell 38 runs short against a strong Leyton side.