Perfect Edgware secure record-breaking Chess Valley promotion

It has been a long time coming, but Edgware have finally mastered the Chess Valley League and secured their first promotion in the Sunday 45-over competition since 2019. Edgware defeated Crick XI on the final day by 3 wickets and in doing so, completed yet another mammoth run chase (267 to win) in what has been a year defined by large chases and fantastic second innings batting by the boys in blue.

MATCH SUMMARY

Losing the toss and being asked to bowl, superb bowling by Zahidullah Maftoon (on debut) saw him take 4/48 off 10 overs in a througuhly deserved performance (note, several drops occurred off his bowling in the first spell and he could have easily secured a 5-wicket haul). Supporting Zahidullah was Jeet Swaminarayan, who's bowling has really improved this season and his consistency and toil showed as he finished with figures of 3/52 off 10 overs.

In the chase, a run a ball 75 by Ciaran Hosty set the platform for another Edgware chase before Abdul Hadi did what he has seemingly done all season and registered a 33-ball 50 including 4 sixes to get Edgware within touching distance. It wouldn't be an Edgware chase without a mini collapse, but Vidanda Galgamuwa and Shuraj Vekaria guided Edgware home to secure a famous 3-wicket win at Mill Hill Village.

Fresh faces: 5 players in the win against Crick XI made their debut during the 2025 season

THE CHESS VALLEY SEASON

In recent years, the Chess Valley League has been a grind for Edgware. Far from their early successes in 2018 and 2019 where the club secured back to back promotions, the introduction of Saturday League Cricket in 2022 has often meant the boys in blue have fielded weaker sides on Sunday and found the challenge of competing against well established and better resourced clubs a real struggle.

However, under the captaincy of Vidanda Galgamuwa, the club seems to have rediscovered it's Sunday spark. The key driver this season seems to have been the relentlessness of Edgware's batting. Abdul Hadi, Ash Balkaran, Ciaran Hosty and Jeet Swaminarayan averaged 220, 146, 114.25 and 43 in the Chess Valley this season respectively which is an abnormality to say the least for an Edgware side. In addition, the club secured three 250+ chases this season, having only managed the feat once before in all previous years. Better wickets during a hot summer can explain some of this, but the fight and resilience from the batting has been exceptional.

Edgware will start next season in Divsion 3 against a very strong group of sides. The main aim for Vidanda Galgamuwa will be to avoid relegation and ensure the club can continue to compete on both Saturday and Sunday.