2018 - A series of highs, lows and new hope

2018 will probably be regarded as one of the greatest season's in Edgware history. Not only did the club announce, partake and win a game on their first tour outside of London, but they also were promoted at the first time of asking in the Chess Valley League, a feat quite remarkable from a club founded only three years prior.

If like me, you have followed the exploits of this banterous, often ill-equipped and incredibly talented cricket team, you would have watched in pure adulation, the performances of a team punching well above their weight given the almost inexistent funding available.

In a series of articles I will examine the highs, lows and new hope for Edgware's future as another cricket season in the northern hemisphere draws to a close. In this week's article I will at a series of highs from this season.

The Highs

1. Pre-Season Nets

Edgware's approach to the new season could not be faltered. A rigorous pre-season net schedule meant not only were the side the most prepared they have ever been going into a new season, but they were also probably their fittest. A staggering 15 net sessions were held during the winter months driven by the commitment of the players. It's fair to say that such a steady flow of cricket during the wintry months of January, February and March laid the foundations for many bowlers and batsmen in the Edgware side to have exceptional seasons.

2. Unbeaten in the league

Edgware were full of optimism going into the league season, however, their job was instantly made harder when both Finchley and Old Haberdashers withdrew from division 5 just before it was about to begin. Not only did it mean Edgware would have to replace lost league fixtures, but it also made their remaining games more of a knockout. A loss or two could have a significant impact on their chances of promotion.

If Edgware were nervous going into their first league game against Chipperfield, it didn't show. They reduced the visitors to 122 all out as the quartet of Rohan Gopal, Raj Parmar, Vidanda Galgamuwa and Jude Saverus bowled probably the best collective spell of fast bowling ever seen at the ECG, with Raj claiming an imperious 4-24. Edgware showed little nerves knocking off the total, reaching 126-3 in just over 20 overs.

After Crouch End were comfortably beaten at the ECG to make it two wins from two, Edgware took on Greenwood Park in a tussle for top spot. The Edgware innings will always be remembered in three parts. The first, a fantastic opening partnership between Ciaran Hosty and Nakul Jilka, who put on 129 for the first wicket. The second, a collapse and most notably the run out of in form Sajith Sriwickramasekaran which reduced the score to 155-4 and the third, the great recovery from Kishan Patel who hit a classy 60 with the tail to push Edgware to 247 all out.

Greenwood's response was aggressive, hard-hitting and in retrospect incredibly naive. The captain turned to his wildcard Vidanda Galgamuwa, who regardless of the stick he gets about his pace (if Viddy bowled on the moon, would the ball ever reach the batsman?) is a genuinely talented and clever bowler. It was Greenwood's ego that lost them the game as they tried too often and too hard to smash Edgware players out of Mill Hill. They eventually collapsed from 80-2 to 115 all out as Vidanda Galgamuwa took a club record 5-31, supported by Rahul Kothari who took 3-40 and bowled probably the greatest spell of his Edgware career.

To game 4 against local rivals Belmont & Edgware on a drizzly and cold Sunday morning. The game itself was lucky to have been played given the sheer torrential rain which occurred on Saturday and the uninspiring forecast for Sunday from BBC Weather amongst others. However, remarkably the game was on and what a game it was. Put into bowl first, Belmont did well to survive an onslaught from the Edgware bowlers who again bowled with supreme accuracy in seamer friendly conditions. Despite a cameo from their number 9, Belmont posted a modest 108 all out and Edgware were confident at the halfway stage of securing another victory.

However, it wouldn't be an Edgware game if there wasn't drama. Despite a decent start, Edgware fell from 37-1 to 62-7 as Belmont's opening bowlers bowled fantastic line and length on a sticky and unforgiving wicket. What followed was probably the most tense 30 minutes of cricket anyone watching will ever have experienced. Rahul Kothari and Vidanda Galgamuwa with composure beyond their years, slowly cut away at the score before Rahul was caught fantastically at backward point for 13 to leave Edgware still some 22 shy. Enter Dean, a man who had only started playing two months previously and who like a roman wall stood firm to the barrage of pace bowling from the Belmont team. At the other end Vidanda played probably one of the finest knocks he will ever play, first driving a full ball for four, before launching a massive six over mid-wicket to put Edgware on the brink. When Dean got his leg to a leg-side delivery in the next over, wild celebrations followed and were like something I've never experienced in cricket. Pure amazement, jubilation and adrenaline, everything you'd expect from a derby.

Onto the final game of the league season against Octopus. Edgware choosing to bat once again laid the foundations in their opening partnership, 101 runs this time before Nakul fell victim to mid-wicket. Now, have you ever been to a house party that appears to be slowly dying out and then a legend emerges from the darkness with a 12-pack of Carlsberg and a fistful of dreams? Well, as Edgware looked to be posting just under 200, Jude Saverus was that man. A cameo of 21 which included probably the most outrageous shot ever played by an Edgware player, a scoop off the spinner for four runs was clearly the difference in a 11 run win for Edgware.

Edgware in the field were electric, with Jonty Rhodes-style run outs, fantastic slip and wicket-keeping catches and with Octopus in the ascendency, a terrific over from Sajith Sriwickramasekaran sealed the win in the most dramatic of style. Matt Dempsey, who would go on to play for Edgware later in the season season, pummelled the bowling to all parts and seemed to be driving Octopus to a win. However, he ran out of partners as Sajith removed the number 11 with an in-swinging ball to send the off stump cartwheeling. It was the perfect way to end probably the most perfect of league seasons and one that will be cherished for years to come.

3. A record breaking opener

Nakul Jilka has for a long time been one of Edgware's most attractive to watch, classy and all-around special players. However, as another season dawned I don't think anyone, including myself, would have guessed a season like this was on the cards. After a fairly modest start, Nakul finally claimed his first ever Edgware CC fifty in May against a strong Southgate Adelaide side with a 6ft, 18-year old bowler sending down lightning bolts. Another fifty soon followed against Crouch End and then another and another. In fact, so much was Nakul's form that by the end of the game against Harbledown in September, Nakul had amassed over 570 runs at an average of 47.50 with five 50's and one hundred.

The difference this year for Nakul has been his concentration and his skill in crafting an innings. Nakul had been known for his 30's, but this year he was known for his 50's. A gifted timer of the ball, Nakul has an ability to play the ball 360 around the ground, is notably deadly off his legs and is meticulous in the way he exploits gaps in the field and rotates the strike, especially against spinners.

Nakul's stats now speak for themselves. Edgware fans will be eager to see how married life affects his batting.

4. Talent in unexpected places

Vidanda Galgamuwa, the man for all seasons, a crowd favourite, probably the slowest "medium" pacer in the world and last but not least 'Bowler of the Year for 2018'. The right arm medium pacer became the trick up the captain's sleeve this summer as he left even 1st XI players in trouble with his nagging line on or just outside off stump.

The secret to Vidanda's success is a combination of his accuracy and pace. English wickets are notorious for being slow, low wickets and can be exceptionally hard to get yourself in on, particularly fresh after winter and acclimatised to the speed of indoor nets. What Vidanda does well is his, 'you miss I'll hit' style of bowling. Most batsmen have found working him around very difficult and timing him even more so. It's why he has often tied batsmen down at one end before their lack of patience gives Vidanda the only opportunity required to take their wicket.

If anything, Vidanda can be likened to the Boa Constrictor (no not because he's in his own words "built like a f*cking tank"), but because he gets in the mind of his prey, slowly increasing the pressure on his victims with every passing second, before applying the final kill.

With 18 wickets at 13.68, Vidanda's season is one for the history books and one for the memories of every player who witnessed it in full flight.

For time purposes, I could only pick four highs/factors as to why Edgware had such an incredible season. I could have just as easily picked Rahul Kothari or Sajith Sriwickramasekaran or Jude Saverus or any other member of this great side, but I wanted to analyse those who far exceeded expectations and were pivotal in Edgware's promotion run. I can only look forward with anticipation to the 2019 season.

The next article, lows, will be released next week.