Season 2026: We’re back, and we’re already discussing selection, that’s Fantasy League selection not team selection (that’s a tougher job!).
Week 1 delivered everything we love about SLHCC cricket: drama, collapses, heroics, confusion, and at least two teams wondering what if. A mixed bag? Absolutely. Entertaining? As always. Let’s dive into who strutted into the Fantasy League spotlight and who quietly backed away pretending they’d left the iron on at home.
5XI – THE HEADLINE ACT (Yes, absolutely.)
For the first time ever, the 5’s have crashed the Fantasy League party — and they’ve done it like a hen do arriving at 1am: loud, bold, and somehow incredibly effective.
A magnificent 5‑wicket win away at Eastwood set the tone. Bowling first, they held the hosts to 201‑7 thanks to: Jay Jarosz – 4/18 and Terry Busby – 2/22
Then came the chase: roll up Keith Wilson – 59 and Jay Jarosz – 83* to guide the team home inside 35 overs. Magnificent!
Fantasy Points: Keith Wilson – 109, Terry Busby – 30, Jay Jarosz – would’ve been 193… if he’d actually been in the game. Good news managers: he’s now been added. Bad news: you didn’t have him this week.
1XI – THE 3‑RUN HEARTBREAKER
A thriller at the Rec ended with SLHCC losing by just 3 runs, which is basically the cricketing equivalent of losing your WiFi at 99% of a download. Leigh posted 236, though it looked like being 270+ at one point until: Matt Higgins – 3/34 and Harry Robinson – 2/51 took control.
The chase had everything: A solid 50‑run opening stand (Tom Willats - 24, Jack Scutt - 42); A collapse (of course); A heroic middle‑order rebuild (Jack Carter 38, Adam Knight 27 and Mash Page 31); And then… heartbreak. So near, yet so far.
Fantasy Points: Jack Scutt 42, Tom Willats 34, Matt Higgins 64, Harry Robinson 49, Mash Page 41, Jack Carter 38. Plenty of positives — and no one can say it wasn’t entertaining or tense.
4XI – THE OTHER HALF OF THE LEIGH DOUBLE HEADER
Another close one, another “what if”, another afternoon of Geoff‑based excellence. Batting first, the 4’s posted 113 with contributions from: Geoff Lake – 27 and Geoff Gullett – 18* (and a promise to bowl better than he bats)
And bowl better he did: Geoff Gullett – 4/22 backed up by Avanish Patil – 2/23 and Connor Filsell – 1/25
Leigh got there with 2 wickets to spare, thanks largely to an opener who carried his bat for 58 and probably took the match ball home with him.
Fantasy Points: Geoff Gullett - 128, Avanish Patil - 46, Connor Filsell - 33. Westcliff 5XI visit next — a chance to get back to winning ways.
2XI – A DAY TO FILE UNDER “CHARACTER BUILDING”
Away to Aztecs, fielding first, conceding 290 — you can see where this is going. Bowling highlight: Vinay Kumar – 3/39. Batting highlights (there was a few): Vinay Kumar – 33, Bala Sudhakaran – 21, and Matt Lewis - 21
The team will have better days. They must. Statistically, they have to.
Fantasy Points: Vinay Kumar - 78, Bala Sudhakaran - 56, Matt Lewis - 21. Next up: Newham away. Strap in.
3XI – TOUGH DAY AT THE OFFICE
Oakfield Parkonians posted 402‑7. Yes, that is quite a lot, but they are a decent side. No, it’s not a typo. Yes, the bowlers are okay (emotionally pending).
Wickets: Freddie Hales – 2/68, Shan Selvaraj – 2/68, and Henry McCartney – 2/57.
At 17‑4, the chase looked like a horror scene, but then came the fightback: Deepak Kumar – 26, Freddie Hales – 68, Shan Selvaraj – 63 and Henry McCartney – 22
A spirited 243 in reply — and some big fantasy hauls.
Fantasy Points: Freddie Hales – 158 (Player of the Week), Shan Selvaraj – 143 and Henry McCartney – 52. Orsett away next. A shorter trip and hopefully a shorter opposition scorecard.
THE LEAGUE TABLE & AWARDS
A late surge of entries takes us to 44 teams, beating last year’s total. Payouts are confirmed as below
· May Manager of the Month - £15
· June Manager of the Month - £15
· July Manager of the Month - £15
· August Manager of the Month - £15
Big shout outs to the weekly award winners – sadly no payments available:
Player of the Week: Freddie Hales – 158
Manager of the Week: Darren Evans – 547
And congratulations to everyone that made the team of the week – keep up the good work.
That’s all from me
I’ll be back Friday with the lowdown for Week 2 — team news, matchups, and the usual blend of optimism, sarcasm and blind faith.