After a great week in the Cotswolds as more than 20 Richmond players joined our 51st consecutive tour, it was back to League business on Saturday and Week 15 was as good asit gets.

The 1's continued their excellent form of late with a comfortable win over Hornsey. Adam London lost the toss and so Richmond found themselves in the field. It was time for the bowlers to step up and they did so in great style. Ishaan Kashaul took two in two balls in the 4th over and from there we were in control. Ish struck again with the score on 34 before Ben Ward, playing his final game for the club this season, took two more to reduce Hornsey to 59 for 5. A stunning catch by Vansh Jani gave James Nelson his first wicket, Ward his third, Nelson his second and Craig Baldry came on to trap the batter plumb in front. Hornsey were 99 for 9. Former Hornsey skipper Jack Bruce rightly decided that all-out aggression was the best option and he took the attack to us. His 74 not out off 68 balls ensured that Hornsey reached 160 all out.

A target of 161 should always be comfortable on an Old Deer Park pitch but after Greg King and Tanmay Thanawalla were dismissed to leave us 9 for 2, our chase seemed to be less than a foregone conclusion. However Vansh Jani, after a couple of League failures in his past two games, in partnership with Charlie Nelson had other ideas. Together these two teenagers payed very maturely to put on 146 on 32 overs to carry us to the threshold of victory. Vansh scored his third League ton on the season to take him past 800 League runs, the highest by any Richmond player in Premier League cricket. He will know that, just as he did against Finchley a few weeks ago, he gifted his wicket to the opposition with the win a few runs away. Jack Nelson was dismissed with the scores level but Charlie struck a winning boundary and, in doing so, brought up his own unbeaten half-century. The win does not move us up the table but does move us further ahead of those below us and closer to come of those above us. With three games to go, our focus is to win all three and see where we end up.

A great chase at Crouch End, led by 17 year old Zac Pooley, saw the 2's move to within 1 point of League leaders Teddington. This was another tight finish which went down to the third ball of the final over which Olly Leedham hit for a match winning 6 as the 1st XI boys watched on at Old Deer Park, via the stream. Earlier, stand-in captain Tom Spearman lost the toss and his side found themselves in the field. With Crouch End 123 for 7, we were firmly in the ascendancy but the home side's tail wagged and although a final total of 189 for 8 was below par, it was still a challenge. Kartik Jain with 3 for 21 and Will Knowles with 2 for 17 were the leading bowlers. Just like the 1's , the 2's got off to a poor start - 12 for 2. The loss of KD with the score on 43 and then Spearman at 97 put the game in the balance. However Pooley and Ryan Quinn batted well to take us to 172 and less than a run a ball needed in the final overs. However Quinn's departure put the pressure back on Richmond but Pooley stood firm, Leedham played sensibly and the target was reached with three balls to spare. Zac was 84 not out.

The 3's also had an excellent chase at the Newman Ground. Teddington posted an excellent 259 for 4 off their 45 overs but Richmond's batters, in particular Huzefa Sajawal with 79 and Arun Bhasin with 49 not out saw us home by 2 wickets. The win keeps us 6 points clear of North Middlesex at the top of the table.

Richmond's 4's, playing in Division 1 of the League's Third Tier, needed a win to move away from the relegation zone and they duly delivered thanks to an exceptional effort from skipper Wali Bhutto (68*) and Tor Ziegler-Evans (44) who put on 111 for the tenth wicket and take us to a final total of 255. Earlier Aravind Liphos had scored 45 and Amrik Bhatia 33. Tor also starred with the ball taking 4 for 28 as Hampstead 4 were bowled out for 164. The win takes our 4's 19 points clear of the relegation zone.

The 5's made quick work of Acton 4's, dismissing their opponents for just 77 and knocking them off in 7.5 overs. The 5's are 3rd in the table, level on points with second placed Wycombe House 3's, and just 4 behind Harrow 3's who top the table.

Earlier in the week, Richmond's Under 13's boys won their way to Lord's where they will take on Dorridge for the title of National Under 13's Champions. That match will take place on the afternoon of Saturday 14th September.

And on Monday 19th August, our Girls Under 19's travel to Kibworth for the National Under 19's Finals Day where they will play Sessay from Yorkshire. Should they win that semi-final, they will play either Astwood Bank (from Worcestershire) or Exeter in the final.

Finally our Boys Under 19's are through to Finals Day of the Middlesex Trophy. So, all in all, a great week for Richmond!