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Village win Middlesex Slam T20 in stunning finale
Club seals dramatic one-wicket victory with a ball to spare after extraordinary late fightback, writes Ibrahim Javed
Mill Hill Village CC have been crowned Middlesex Slam T20 champions, sealing a dramatic one-wicket win with a ball to spare.
Victory looked a distant prospect when allrounder Mushtaq Ahmed was caught out to leave the Village reeling on 79-7, chasing an improbable 158 with only eight overs to go.
But this Village team refused to buckle. In wild scenes that sparked delirium on the boundary from players and supporters, newcomer Jalilullah Rahimi hit the final ball of the innings for a boundary - after striking the previous two deliveries for six - to secure the most unlikely of victories. The 17-year-old was helped by captain Speen Ahmadzai, who took responsibility at the business end of the innings when all had looked lost, striking an unbeaten 31 from 15 balls, including two fours and three mighty sixes.
Batting first, Totteridge posted a competitive 157-6, built around Jeremy Book’s 40 from 36 balls. Ben Josyfon provided the late acceleration with an unbeaten 41 from just 18 deliveries.
In a tense chase, Village wickets fell with alarming regularity, with our neighbours repeatedly threatening to wrestle control of the contest. A crucial intervention came from Hamza Ahmed - who earlier took 2-25 - at no. 9, whose 20 from 13 balls helped provide some momentum and keep the chase alive.
The final word, though, belonged to Rahimi, who had also earlier taken a couple of precious wickets. Walking in with no margin for error, the teenager showed remarkable composure and maturity beyond his years, blasting an unbeaten 18 from seven balls, including a four as well as those two sixes, to help see the victory home under immense pressure.
The Village XI was given a huge boost by a brilliant turnout from club members for the competition at North Middlesex Cricket Club in Crouch End. Members who weren’t involved in the final came down to support the team, cheering every run and making their presence felt throughout the tightest of chases, backing that gave us a real lift and made the crowd feel like a genuine 12th man.
Captain Speen was presented with the trophy by Middlesex and England bowling legend Angus Fraser, who has been managing director of Middlesex In The Community since 2024.
"We looked dead and buried at 79-7, but this group never stopped believing," a Mill Hill Village spokesman said. "For one of our young batters to go 6-6-4 in the last over, in front of some enthusiastic supporters that never stopped cheering, makes this victory the perfect end to another incredible season of success."
Earlier in the day, the Village secured a place in the final of this newly established competition by defeating Old Elizabethans by 3 wickets (scorecard), Hamza Ahmad (3-22) and Momin Sadozai (3-29) helping restrict the opposition to 152-9. The Village was always ahead of the chase thanks to a fast start by opener Obaid Ur Rehman’s 55 of 18 balls. Khalil Mohammadi scored three sixes in his 24.