Montague has Rickmansworth in a spin as Exiles seal promotion (From Enfield Independent)

Montague has Rickmansworth in a spin as Exiles seal promotion

8:50am Wednesday 27th August 2008

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THE headline performance for Northampton Exiles last weekend came as the 2nd XI clinched a second successive promotion in the Saracens Herts Cricket League.

They defeated third-placed Rickmansworth 3rd by 114 runs to make sure of promotion from Division 10. After being put into bat, Exiles got off to a great start with Abdul Ghaffar (42) and Bernie Bower (17) sharing an opening partnership of 68.

They fell in successive overs, but Salman Butt (69), Darshan Naik (29) Ian Montague (21no) and Tony O'Neill (15no) built on the start to guide the Enfield side to an impressive 221-4 after 52 overs. Spinner Montague (5-37) ensured that Rickmansworth never challenged for victory.

He was supported by a string of other bowlers as Wasif Butt (1-16), Anil Mistry (1-11), Ken Thomas (2-19) and Salman Butt (1-4) all helped to chip away at the visitors' batting line-up.

However, there were only a couple of overs remaining when the returning Montague took the last wicket to dismiss Rickmansworth for 107.

Exiles' 3rd XI inflicted only a second defeat of the season on Division 12 leaders Watton-at-Stone 2nd to enhance their own double promotion prospects and confirm second place.

However, with two games to go, six sides are still in contention for the four promotion slots. The gamble of putting Watton-at-Stone in succeeded as Exiles dismissed the home side for 119, Majid Butt (5-21) and Sulaman Salim (3-36) meeting with most success.

Watton-at-Stone hit back hard and fully extended Exiles, with only Haseeb Kashmiri (40) and all-rounder Salim (33no) making much headway.

It proved enough, though, as Salim guided Exiles to 120-8 and a tense two-wicket victory with ten overs to spare.

Exiles 1st XI still have a chance of promotion from Division 4, lying only seventh but just 15 points off current fourth-placed North Mymms 2nd, whom they are due to visit on the final day of the season.

On Saturday they faced struggling Bushey and were put into bat on an initially two-paced track.

Exiles made a sticky start against the medium pace of Will Galvin (1-53) and Habib Alam (4-50) and, with the added handicap of an early run-out, were struggling at 35-3 after an hour.

The experienced Wayne Lawler (32) and Sean Lawler (55) put on 88 at better than four an over to give Exiles the initiative and, despite their departure in successive overs, Adrian Browne (34) and Amar Patel (18) posted on 58 in ten overs, to help Exiles reach 203-7 off their 53 overs.

Bushey also made a cautious start, Alam (15) and Sagheer Ahmed (14) scoring at barely two an over before both fell to Haroon Akhtar (2-17) in quick succession, the former to a thrilling gully catch by Browne.

Derek Walsh (41) then hit hard, partnered by Jarrod Ryder (10) before Harit Patel (2-37) and Wesley Strang (1-31) reduced Bushey to 87-5.

A brief flurry from Imran Mustafa (20) and Numaan Ilyas (13) caused Exiles to revert to their spinners, and Browne (4-21) and David Taylor (1-8) took the last five wickets for 11 runs in some seven overs, helped by some keen catching, to dismiss Bushey for 131 and give them a 72-run victory with six overs to spare.

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