Saturday morning cricket on Hackney Marshes is back! #attheheartofhackneycricket @wagonex
This week @stokeycricket received the Men’s 1s Division 4 Hospitality Award. Thanks to all those in the club, who behind the scenes, give their free time to help make Stokey such a great place to come and play cricket. We are not going to rest on our laurels though - we’ll try even harder this year to keep the standards high. This award goes to you! @wagonex #attheheartofhackneycricket
This is fantastic news for the game of cricket! Great to see a @stokeycricket junior represented here. Kids like this need opportunities to play cricket in inner-city Britain. SNCC is the largest cricket club in East London and summer training starts next week - all welcome! Link in bio #attheheartofhackneycricket @ecb_cricket @middlesexparticipation @middlesexccl @wagonex
@stokeycricket 2023 year has ended on a massive high. We are absolutely delighted to share the news that our Cricket Co-ordinator, Duncan Holden, has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Year Honours in recognition of his services to sport in London – 18 months after being named MCC Community Champion.
To say that Duncan has contributed to sport in London is an understatement. Duncan is the heart and soul of our club and has been since very soon after it started 25 years ago. He’s been instrumental in and has overseen the rebirth of cricket on Hackney Marshes, introduced hundreds, if not thousands of schoolchildren to cricket across the borough and helped create one of the fastest growing clubs in the UK.
More than 400 members – across the men’s, women’s and junior sections of the clubs – enjoy year-round training and coaching as well as a full calendar of fixtures, all expertly managed by Duncan.
Not only is Duncan the consummate coordinator, but he also performs the job with such enthusiasm, energy and good humour – knowing every single member personally.
We are immensely proud of you Duncan as well as extremely grateful for everything you continue to do for our club and cricket in Middlesex. This recognition is richly deserved, and we look forward to seeing where we can get to in 2024 and beyond. Thanks Duncan. #attheheartofhackneycricket @wagonex
The Stokey seniors signed off for the summer with some intra club friendlies. There were some spicy matchups and scores to settle 😂 For the defeated, no chance of a comeback until January training haha. As promised here is @roblowphoto getting his stumps rearranged by an @mv_rao.17 yorker. @stokeycricket #attheheartofhackneycricket
Stokey u19s took on their Highgate counterparts this evening away from home. They were forced to bowl after losing the toss. Despite some tight bowling in the powerplay and some fortunate shots, both Highgate openers retired with their half centuries. Oscar Parnum came on and stemmed the flow of the runs with Stokey producing some tight fielding in the final overs to have 171 runs to chase. Theo Bannister took on the short straight boundaries in the powerplay, however, Highgate’s pitch began to provide some temperamental bounce leading to a flurry of early wickets. However, Kamran and Archie Parnum played themselves in and produced a blistering partnership, including 3 overs going for nearly 60 runs. After Kamran fell for 48, Stokey required 1 off the final ball and some of the finest backing up in history by Ted Mason proved to be the final piece in the puzzle as Stokey U19s produced their finest result of the season so far. @stokeycricket @highgatecltc #attheheartofhackneycricket
Performance of the week goes to young Roy Matter for a quite outstanding match winning knock of 118 not out from 58 balls for @stokeycricket u15 vs @hornseycricketclub Roy has established himself as a regular in the men’s 3s this year but the sky’s the limit for this talented allrounder. Well done Roy! @wagonex #attheheartofhackneycricket
The men's 1s were involved in another thriller on Saturday. A composed 49 from Matt Bancroft got the total to a defendable 130. Friends Reunited had a major wobble in reply going from 40-1 to 97-7. That was that though despite some close calls to go down fighting by 3 wickets. The 2s, also at home, were entertaining Enfield and fought hard to get to 150 against some tight bowling. At 5-2 things were looking good but despite throwing everything to get the breakthrough, it wasnt to be, losing by 7 wickets.
The 3s run-filled season continues, racking up 285 in quick time - the 50's coming from Tom Davies and Ankit this week. Crouch End were never in the game for the win once they lost early wickets but they hung on grimly for the draw 9 down at the end!
The 4s fine run ended at home to Headstone Manor, only scoring 88 which was never enough. The vistors chasing it down without too much alarm.
The 5s had a difficult visit to Village CC, conceding 255. That proved a step too far and they went down by 158. The 6s couldn’t quite get over the line against Switch Hitters, narrowly going down by 3 wickets defending 164, Kamran Khan with 52.
On Sunday the women’s 1s faced a strong Gunnersbury side. A strong bowling performance at the start had the visitors extremely watchful but the class in the middle order prevailed and the chase was a daunting 205. Stokey needed a couple of big patnerships but unfortunately wickets fell too regularly for a sustained chase, all out for 99. @wagonex #attheheartofhackneycricket
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came to support our Junior Club Day 2023. It’s a day where we celebrate the fantastic achievements of all our junior members, a group that gets bigger and better every year.
Thanks to the amazing efforts of all the helpers, organisers, cake makers, raffle donations, juniors and parents, the club managed to raise over £1000.
A special thanks to councillor Caroline Woodley @hackneycouncil for coming along to our special day to hand out the medals and prizes as well @eastlondonbrew for providing us with cold beverages throughout the day.
And finally a message to all our juniors. Well done to each one of you. It’s been a pleasure to watch all of you progress to being better cricketers this year. You are the beating heart of the club and it’s a joy to see so many of you having fun on the Marshes every weekend. Keep working hard and the rewards will be there. @wagonex #attheheartofhackneycricket
Both the men's 1s and 2s were in the neighbourhood of Ealing for their away fixtures, the 1s looking to build on their thrilling victory last week. It looked like going to plan at the halfway stage, limiting Hanwellians to just 140, with Sid and Harley taking 4 wks each. The reply didn’t go as expected however and Stokey were bundled out for just 103.
The 2s were having a battle royale with Trailfinders just next door and having once again bowled first, were in the box seat with the home team 120-7. However some poor death bowling and lusty blows lifted the hosts to 238. Having been positive that Stokey could chase that total some early wickets meant they had to re-assess the situation, reduced to 81-5. Up stepped Rob and Rich to bunker down, repelling all that Ealing could throw at them, with lots of short stuff from one end. When Rich was out with 5 overs remaining it was nerves aplenty, but the 2s survived for a draw - just!
The 3s, holding the forte back home on the Marshes, had a tasty top of the table clash with Highgate. Winning the toss Stokey were in trouble at 0-2 but that was a good as it got for Highgate as the rest of the top order went at over a run-a-ball with Noah, Atticus, Andy, and Yasir all scoring 50's - Yasir with 88* off just 48 balls! 306 was always going to be tough ask, and so it proved. It was the Oscar Parnum show, the young spinner taking 6-43 a Stokey best, to take the team to the brink of victory but alas Highgate held out for the draw.
The 4s gave out a heavy defeat to North London. 50's for Andy (again) Som and Tom Davies got them to 280. The bowling was equally ruthless, skittling the hosts for 87, Jamie T the pick with 4-26.
The 5s had a stiff test against Lankians 2s, espicially after being asked to bowl first. Fergus with 4 wks on a hot day. Chasing 238 proved too much however losing by 113 runs.
On Sunday the women’s 1s travelled to Bushy Park and were in trouble early having been put in. They did well to have something to bowl at, having recovered from 41-8 to have 78 on the board. Bushy Park though were too strong, knocking the 78 off without any loss.
Week 9 is almost here! @wagonex #attheheartofhackneycricket
Week 7 saw a Stokey Cricket 1st. All 4 mens league sides were victorious, the 1s and 2s in dramatic style.
The 1s were on the show pitch, needing a win to kickstart the season. Batting first Stokey battled hard to get to 184 thanks to 47 from big JKS. At 90-1 Kensington & Chelsea were looking favourites until up stepped Harley Gardon. Coming from the Marshes end Harley got the dangerous Abhi Josh to start a quite a sensational collapse. K&C losing 9-44, the last 7 batters all bowled and Harley finishing with oustanding figures of 8-48
The 2s, a few hundred yards away on pitch 3 were having there own early evening thriller. Having been asked to bowl on another hot day the bowlers toiled hard on a good line and the reward. Zain getting 2 and MV Rao moping up the tail with 4-43. In reply Zain proved his importnace as an all rounder with an accomplished 51 opening the batting. The 2s is never plain sailing and a middle order collapse left Stokey needing 6 from the last pair. Poor Abhi had done 4 laps of the pitch paceing up and down by that stage but Tariq proved to be the coolest head on the Marshes, smacking a drive over long-on’s head for the winning runs against Southgate!
The 3s starting off like an express train and should have had the match won much earlier, a few dropped catches meaning Brondesbury ended up with 131 having been in a world of pain at 16-4. Roy Mattar bowling his best senior spell with 4-11. Adam up top set the 3s rollicking along and it was left to Andy and Rob with a 50 partnership to guide the 3s comfortably home.
6-14 from Sardar Rashid helped bowl out Wembley for 134. This was knocked off in style thanks to 58 from Amila and a win for the 4s by 6 wks The 5s came unstuck against Newham going down by 77 having conceded 227. The 6s came close against Crouch End, losing by 3 wks despite a Bobby P 50.
Sunday saw the womens 1s match conceded by Richmond so it was the 2s that saw any action. In keeping with the weekend theme it was only in the last over that Crouch End crawled over the line by 2 wks, Stokey not able to defend 73 despite Amna bowling superbly with 4-13.
Week 8 is almost here!
📸@roblowphoto
#attheheartofhackneycricket
Our Junior club day is just over a week away! Here’s a reminder of the scenes on the Marshes last year. Let’s all make it an even better occasion in 2023! We have just been informed Councillor Woodley, the lead for sports and leisure will be giving out prizes. There will also be a licensed bar, beer being supplied by @eastlondonbrew We will hopefully accept card payments but please bring cash just in case. Please bring cake for the cake stall and if anyone has any raffle prizes they’d like to donate please get in touch on here or @roblowphoto See you all soon! @wagonex #attheheartofhackneycricket 📸roblowphoto
A silky smooth 65 from Aswin Anil was the cornerstone to the men’s 1s scoring 180 away to Bessborough. This proved to be not enough to defend and went down by 7 wickets.
The 2s found themselves in another thrilling run chase. The total was a daunting 237 on a dry Chiswick pitch. They got off to an excellent start thanks to more class from Tasin who scored 57, leading from the front. A middle order stutter followed but in came Vignesh who started strong and kept on coming. His 84 off 57 almost got them over the line but once he went, stumped, Stokey's reply faltered to lose by 26.
The 3s packed their bages for a visit to Harrow, full of confidence from a series of victories. Losing to toss on a hot day didn’t dampen the jovial mood one jot. Tom Bull made the early breakthrough, good reward for bowling straight. It was the spin twins Hollie and Oscar that did the real damage though, combining for an outstanding 8-61, both of them getting 4 wickets each. 119 was never going to be enough, Adam and Noah opening, knocking off the runs in just over 16 overs.
Performance of the week though has to go to Andy Hawkins in the 4s for a quite brilliant 159, supported by 86 from Fred Owen and 50 from Nikkitesh to post a mamouth 325 versus Crouch End. 4 wickets a-piece from Sardar and Yasir made it plain sailing to romp home by 219 runs.
The 5s hosted Ilford Catholics and put 125 on the board. Despite 2 wickets on debut from Toronto, the catholics ran out winners by 5 wks. David Chapman's 48 got the 6s to a very tidy 173 and were looking good, Millwall Stars rocking at 24-3. The middle order fired though and the Stars sneaked home by 2 wickets.
On Sunday the women’s 1s took a trip to Wembley. The journey didnt seem to worry them much as they tore into the Wembley batters to have them all out for 79 with the wickets shared around nicely! Some early jitters in the reply were calmed by the cool heads of Lisa and Batul to safely guide them home by 4 wickets.
Week 7 is but hours away, go well Stokey! @wagonex #attheheartofhackneycricket
A 50 from men's 1s skip Dominic Haddock made sure Headstone Manor had something to think about, chasing 212. Unfortunately the bowling was not quite tight enough, going down by 4 wickets.
The 2s, having conceding 241 on the road (and on a road) to early league frontrunner's Actonians, were staring down the barrel at 112-4, but a quite sensational partnership from Ben Gale (62*) and Ankish Jain (83*) saw them home by 6 wickets and a new record chase for the books.
The 3s winning streak continued with another excellent all round team performance against Enfield. Posting 219 with excellent contributions from 5 of the top 7, it was Fred and Oscar once again striking with early wickets to put the game beyond Enfield.
A game for the ages between the 4s and North Middlesex. Chasing 236 they sneaked home by 1 wicket and 10 balls to spare thanks to a run-a-ball 61 from Andy Hawkins and a fine 61 from captain marvel Som, marshalling the tail home.
The 5s score of 137 wasn't enough to keep Southwark from chasing it down with 5 wickets remaining and the 6s found 185 a bridge to far, also against Southwark, despite an excellent bowling performance from young Ethan Spencer with 4-39.
Sunday saw both women's teams in action. The 1s travelled to Actonians and despite a boundary filled 32 from Clare Heywood, there wasn't enough support to get a dependable total, with the home side chasing it down with 7 wickets to spare.
Some brilliant bowling from Eve Park (3-9) and an almost match winning all-round performance from Chhandasree Dey (2-17) and 33 not out, got the 2s within a whisker of chasing down 119 against Shepherds Bush 1s.
Week 6 is but hours away, go well Stokey! @wagonex #attheheartofhackneycricket
@stokeycricket Junior Club Day 2023. Please come and give your support to what promises to be a celebration of all that’s good about Stoke Newington CC #attheheartofhackneycricket @wagonex
