Published: Tuesday, 15th May, 2007 09:44
Nawaz sends message to selectors
By Observer sport
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Iklaq Nawaz tops the Observer Honours Board bowling stakes
IKHLAQ Nawaz sent out a message to the selectors at Slough Cricket Club after an impressive bowling spell on Saturday saw him make the first Observer Honours Board of the season.
The bowler is one of several players considered to be on the fringes of the first XI and who featured in Bobby Sher's Home Counties side during their pre-season campaign.
However, he was overlooked for the opening game of the season with Sher chosing 16-year-old Michael Payne from a pool of five possibles.
Instead Nawaz played for the second XI against Marlow Park in Division Two B and picked up excellent figures of 6-36 as their opponents were bowled out for 104 from 27.5 overs.
Despite Nawaz' efforts, Slough's batting spectacularly collapsed and they lost the match after only posting 95 runs in a 31.4 over reply.
Nawaz was beaten to the top-spot on the honours board, however, by Mohammed Ansar.
He took six-wickets for just 23 runs as Stoke Green third XI beat Royal Ascot 3s by just one wicket in a rain-affected game that went right down to the wire.
S Martin fell just short of the benchmark set by Farnham Royal skipper Warren Miller this week. His 93 for Windsor 4s in Division Six B puts him just six runs behind the top batting performer on the Honours Board this week.
Teammate M Murray is also not far behind after a score of 86 in the same match as Windsor drew with Eversley 3s.
In Division Three A C George was Windsor second XI's only line of resistance as he scored 54 from a total of 162 all out against Aldershot, who reached the target for the loss of just one wicket.
Dominic Pike scored 51 as he led Royal Ascot's successful chase of 148 against Thatcham in Division Three B. In the same division Sarang Raja's score of 63 was not enough to prevent Stoke Green losing to Maidenhead & Bray.
T Jackson features on the Honours Board after his score of 74 not out for Datchet seconds in Division Four B. Tom Jones also belted 66 as Datchet beat Maidenhead & Bray 2s by five wickets.
E Harris' 69 for Farnham Common 3s in Division Six A also squeezes onto the Board. Alongside J Irvine (60), he led his side to a 97-run victory over OMT 3s. Z Riaz' 5-45 made no small contribution and he was unlucky not to get onto the Honours Board in a strong opening week for bowlers.
Saeed Ahmed did, however, make the grade after taking 5-25 for Royal Ascot 2s. Skipper Dirk Bennyworth (52) and Dave Baker (55) both made half centuries as Ascot proved more regal than Farnham Royal 3s and won by 88 runs.
Playing for Windsor 3s, Chris Edge was one of only three bowlers from the area to pick up six wickets, although going for 81 runs saw him slip down the Board somewhat. In the same match T Bullock picked up 62 as Windsor beat Slough 5s by eight wickets.
Paul Furness' 68 was just one short of making the Honours Board as Datchet 3s lost to Marlow Park 2s by just one wicket in Division Six B. Brad Kersing's 5-46 was not enough for victory or to get him in this week's top five bowlers.
FOR MORE CRICKET NEWS AND THE FIRST HONOURS BOARD OF THE SEASON PICK UP A COPY OF FRIDAY'S OBSERVER
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