By Stan Nicholson

24 August 2017

The Elliott Davis London Cricket League team convincingly won the 2017 Sovereign Trophy final against the South East Sunday Cricket League, at the beautiful setting of Chipstead-Coulsdon & Walcountians CC, on Tuesday 22 August.

First-time finalists SE Sunday, won the toss as the dew was clearing from the ground, and elected to bat.  A positive start of 4 runs per over from Rehan Ikram and Abrar Rehman was undone when Ikram 'ran himself out' on a direct throw from back-ward point (39-1, after 10 overs). Wickets fell in each of the next 4 overs, and it was always a struggle to build any further partnerships. A 9th wicket stand which took the score from 66 to 97, being the only resistance. Spinners Shaftab Khalid and Mustafa Iqbal took 3 wickets each, to be awarded joint men-of-the-match.

Early wickets were needed by SE Sunday, but experienced Elliott Davis openers, Husnain Ali, and captain Hafiz Yawar, knew what they had to do. More than half the target was reached before Ali decided to 'run himself out' (59-1, after 16 overs). Two more wickets fell in the next 4 overs, but 30 runs were scored. No. 5, Asher Zaidi completed the formalities by hitting 4 x 6's.

This is the 2nd time the Elliott Davis London Cricket League have won the Sovereign Trophy, following their 1st occasion in 2015. At the awards presentation the winning team members were presented with special 'winners caps' (as pictured, with the cup & medals). 

The scorecard for the final, and all the results & scores of all this year's matches in the competition are here on our website