Wargrave 4th XI closed their 2024 season on a high, securing a thrilling 12-run victory over Emmbrook and Bearwood 3rd XI away at their Lowther Road ground. A strong bowling display, spearheaded by Jasmer Gill’s three wickets, together with excellent catching helped Wargrave defend a modest total of 131, ensuring they finished the season with momentum and pride.

A Hard-Fought Battle
Having lost the toss, Wargrave were put into bat on a damp pitch that offered assistance to the bowlers after some heavy rain in the previous few days. The batting order struggled to find any rhythm against some disciplined bowling from Emmbrook and Bearwood’s attack, with Daniel Mead (4-21) and Stephen Lazenbury (3-47) wreaking havoc. However, Wargrave’s middle order dug deep, with young talents stepping up when it mattered most.

Opener Advik Gupta, who top-scored with 34 runs, showed great composure and patience, holding the innings together for a significant part of the match. His 79-ball knock included five boundaries, and he battled through some challenging deliveries from Mead and Lazenbury. Gupta’s resilience proved crucial in laying a foundation for Wargrave’s innings.

After early dismissals saw Wargrave reduced to 27-2, it was Freddie Simmonds’ brisk 30 from 41 balls that provided some much-needed momentum. His aggressive approach, including six boundaries, was a counterpunch to Emmbrook’s bowlers, particularly during a vital partnership with Gupta. The pair took Wargrave past the 70-run mark before Simmonds was caught off Lazenbury.

The middle-order collapse saw Wargrave slip from 105-4 to 131 all out, with lower-order contributions limited. Daniel Mead continued his fine spell, removing both Jasmer Gill (14) and Oliver Pagdin (4), but Wargrave had managed to scrape together a total that gave their bowlers something to defend.

Defending 131: Wargrave’s Bowlers Rise to the Challenge
With just 131 on the board, Wargrave’s bowlers knew they had little margin for error. What followed was a spirited performance, backed by some exceptional fielding and a few stunning catches, as they bowled out Emmbrook and Bearwood for 119 in 34 overs.

The highlight of the bowling attack was led by the spin of Jasmer Gill, who took 3-34 in a superb spell that not only brought key breakthroughs but also applied constant pressure on the opposition in the final stages of their innimgs. Gill's variations and control forced mistakes from the Emmbrook batters, as he picked up the crucial wickets of Purushotham Lingaraju (27), Tommy Alborough (1), and Stephen Lazenbury (4).

Gill’s efforts were well-supported by Hitessh Lingala (2-17) and Freddie Simmonds (2-4), both of whom kept the scoring in check and took wickets at vital junctures. Lingala was particularly effective with the new ball, removing opener Sayandeep Das for a duck and later cleaning up Mark Lazenbury (17), who looked like he could take the game away from Wargrave.

Jack Whitehead also played a pivotal role, taking two important wickets in his 6-over spell, including the key dismissal of Russ Brain (9), who had stubbornly resisted Wargrave’s attack for 55 balls.

Key Moments and Brilliant Catches
The turning point of the match came when Simmonds and Whitehead combined to dismiss Brain, followed shortly by Gill’s dismissal of Lingaraju, which saw Emmbrook’s middle-order collapse. Wargrave’s fielders were sharp throughout the innings, with some brilliant catches that swung the momentum in their favour. In particular the final catch from Gupta off the bowling of Gill was a stunning effort to seal the match for Wargrave, but catches from Simmonds, Jeary, Whitehead and Tabrah were all calmly taken to support the bowlers.

One such catch came from skipper om Tabrah, who took a sharp chance to dismiss Wells for 0 off Whitehead’s bowling. However, the crucial catch came from Advik Gupta, whose efforts in the field mirrored his importance with the bat.

Emmbrook and Bearwood’s Resistance
Despite being on the back foot, Emmbrook and Bearwood fought valiantly, with Daniel Mead providing a late surge with a 30-run knock, which included six boundaries. His attacking intent gave the home side a glimmer of hope as he took the game into the final overs. However, Wargrave held their nerve, with Gill wrapping up the innings by dismissing Lazenbury for just 4, securing the win by 12 runs.

A Fitting End to the Season
Wargrave’s victory in this final match reflected the team’s resilience and determination throughout the season. While it wasn’t their best batting performance, their bowlers once again rose to the occasion, with Gill and Lingala in particular standing out.

This win also highlighted the development of younger players like Gupta and Gill, whose performances have been integral to Wargrave’s strong showing this season. Ending the season with a victory provides a positive note for Wargrave, who finish in second place in the league standings.

As the 2024 campaign draws to a close, Wargrave can look back with pride at their achievements and the promise shown by their younger players. This hard-fought win against Emmbrook and Bearwood will serve as a reminder of their fighting spirit as they look ahead to future challenges.