Bretton, Pak Azad and AK11 are the joint leaders after week 1 of the Hunts Indoor League. The popular indoor competition run by Cricket East and Peterborough Limited Bushfield Sports Centre returned at the weekend with some dramatic results which saw last seasons winners Ufford Park and last years runners up Werrington lose.
Defending champions Ufford Park lost only once last season and that was on the opening day to Pak Azad. Lightning struck twice as they lost to the same team again this time by 38 runs. Pak Azad made 114 all out from 9.1 overs with opening batsman Sharoz Hussain top scoring with 42. He received best support from Haroon Bashir with 31. In reply Ufford collapsed to 76 all out with Hussain the chief destroyer with 2-9 from 1.2 overs and 2 direct hit run outs.
Last years runners up Werrington were heavily beaten as 10 times winners Bretton started the season in explosive fashion. Werrington were skittled for 19 (which is possibly the lowest score or one of the lowest scores in the leagues long history). Spin twins Mark Drake (2-5) and Neil Buckingham (2-14) did the damage and there were also two direct hit run outs with Drake contributing one of them. Werrington did take 2 early wickets, but Bretton raced home with 38 balls remaining.
AK11 were also victorious on the opening day with a 4 wicket win over Hampton. Hampton’s 103 all out was built around their opening batsman Shoaib Ali (29) and captain Ali Shah (24). Chief destroyer for Ak11 was Sudheer Jafeer with 2-12, a catch and a run out and also fielder Hassan Amier took 3 catches and executed a run out. AK11 raced home to victory with opening batsman Zaheer Abas and Abrar Ahmad both retiring with 27.
For the first time ever Whittlesey have entered the competition, but they were to be undone in their first match by Wansford by 5 wickets. Chris White (31) and Josh Fox (26) both retired for Whittlesey but Wansford got over the finish line only 1 wicket down with experienced campaigners Andy Briault and Nick Bradbury both retiring and youngster Kester Sainsbury scoring quickly at the end to see Wansgford over the line with 17 balls remaining.
Hunts Indoor League Week 1 Results – Sunday 17th November 2024:
1st Match – Pak Azad beat Ufford Park by 38 runs.
Pak Azad 114 all out from 9.1 overs. Sharoz Hussain 42 (3x6), Haroon Bashir 31 (2x6 and 1x4).
Ufford Park 76 all out from 7.2 overs. Dan Peeroo 21 (1x4). Sharoz Hussain 2-9.
2nd Match – AK11 beat Hampton by 4 wickets.
Hampton 103 all out from 9.4 overs. Shoaib Ali 29 (1x4), Ali Shah 24 (1x6 and 1x4), Mateeh Fayyaz 16 (1x4). Sudheer Jafeer 2-12.
AK11 104-2 from 7 overs. Zaheer Abas 27 – Retired (1x6 and 1x4), Abrar Ahmad 27 – Retired (3x6 and 1x4).
3rd Match – Wansford beat Whittlesey by 5 wickets.
Whittlesey 109-3 from 10 overs. Chris White 31 – Retired (1x6 and 2x4), Josh Fox 26 – Retired (2x4).
Wansford 110-1 from 7 overs. Nick Bradbury 27 – Retired (1x4), Andy Briault 25 – Retired (1x4), Kester Sainsbury 23 not out.
4th Match – Bretton beat Werrington by 4 wickets.
Werrington 19 all out from 3.3 overs. Mark Drake 2-5 and Neil Buckingham 2-14.
Bretton 20-2 from 3.4 overs.
LEAGUE TABLE AFTER WEEK 1:
| 1st | AK11 | P1 | W1 | L0 | 3 points | 6 opposition wickets taken |
| 2nd | Bretton | P1 | W1 | L0 | 3 points | 6 opposition wickets taken |
| 3rd | Pak Azad | P1 | W1 | L0 | 3 points | 6 opposition wickets taken |
| 4th | Wansford | P1 | W1 | L0 | 3 points | 3 opposition wickets taken |
| 5th | Ufford Park | P1 | W0 | L1 | 0 points | 6 opposition wickets taken |
| 6th | Hampton | P1 | W0 | L1 | 0 points | 2 opposition wickets taken |
| 7th | Werrington | P1 | W0 | L1 | 0 points | 2 opposition wickets taken |
| 8th | Whittlesey | P1 | W0 | L1 | 0 points | 1 opposition wicket taken |
