It’s halfway through the summer and what a ride it’s been already! Both teams are very different to last year, welcoming new players to the club and being under new leadership with captains, Muizz Niese at the helm of the 1st XI and Martin Lynch driving the 2nd XI, both sides are showing the grit and determination to do their best for the club. Across the board we’ve witnessed breakout performances, rapidly improving results and team spirit—so let’s dive into the headlines, celebrate our top performers and look forward to the run-in with optimism and a touch of fun.
League Update
1st XI – Division 3B
- Played 11, Won 2, Lost 5, Abandoned 2, Drawn 2
- Points: 119 (10th of 10)
- Recent Form: Back-to-back wins closing the gap on the teams above us
After a mixed start, our first team has found its mojo. Successive victories have injected real confidence. With Muizz’s encouragment from the front, the group is gelling at just the right time. Can we engineer a “great escape” in the second half? Absolutely—especially if our recent form continues. The talent is definitely there.
2nd XI – Division 7D
- Played 11, Won 5, Lost 4, Abandoned 2
- Points: 152 (5th of 10)
- Recent Form: Four wins on the bounce
Martin Lynch’s new-look 2nd team has been nothing short of electric. Climbing from the mid-table to a genuine promotion contention spot, the lads have shown discipline in the field and potency with bat and ball. Four successive victories have everyone back at the clubhouse buzzing. Promotion? It’s now firmly on the menu.
Top 5 Bowling Performances
Our bowlers have been a revelation. Between ‘Doc’ Zulfiqar and Kashif Nizami they’ve taken 23 wickets between them—setting the tone for others to follow.
Special shout-out: Kashif’s 6/46 and Saqib’s marathon spells have underpinned both teams’ recent wins.
| Rank | Player | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Best | Econ | SR | Avg |
| 1 | ‘Doc’ Zulfiqar | 71 | 5 | 314 | 13 | 3 / 24 | 4.42 | 32.77 | 24.15 |
| 2 | Kashif Nizami | 29.1 | 6 | 106 | 10 | 6 / 46 | 3.63 | 17.50 | 10.60 |
| 3 | Muhammad Abdullah Zulfiqar | 52.1 | 5 | 207 | 10 | 3 / 41 | 3.97 | 31.30 | 20.70 |
| 4 | Saqib Ahmed | 61 | 6 | 286 | 10 | 3 / 40 | 4.69 | 36.60 | 28.60 |
| 5 | Tom Nicholas | 41 | 2 | 241 | 8 | 2 / 20 | 5.88 | 30.75 | 30.13 |
Top 5 Batting Performances
When it comes to runs, we’ve been blessed with batters in a purple patch. Captain Muizz is settling in, but it’s the ever-young Amir Abbassi lighting up the scoreboard.
| Rank | Player | Gms | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | 50s | 100s | SR |
| 1 | Amir Abbassi | 8 | 8 | 0 | 439 | 165 | 54.88 | 1 | 2 | 103.54 |
| 2 | David Morris (“Mozza”) | 9 | 9 | 2 | 297 | 116 | 42.43 | 2 | 1 | 104.95 |
| 3 | Teghveer Seghal | 6 | 6 | 1 | 257 | 127 | 51.40 | 0 | 1 | 137.80 |
| 4 | Muizz Niese | 10 | 10 | 0 | 188 | 85 | 18.80 | 1 | 0 | 62.67 |
| 5 | Kashif Nizami | 6 | 6 | 0 | 181 | 73 | 30.17 | 1 | 0 | 77.21 |
Note: Amir’s 165 and Teghveer’s 127 are early contenders for innings of the season—those highlights reels will be epic with Teg’s 6s being truly huge.
Key Performances & Moments
- Historic “Great Escape” bid: Two wins on the spin have lit belief in the 1st XI that climbing out of the drop zone isn’t a pipe dream. Muizz’s tactical field placements and calm head under pressure were instrumental against Hounslow & Whitton.
- Amir Abbassi cannot stop scoring runs. Could he even be the top scorer in the TVL? As everyone’s favourite Uncle we are all rooting for him.
- Zulfiqar Legacy: Watching ‘Doc’ and Abdullah terrorise opposition batsmen has been a masterclass in spin bowling. Their 23 wickets combined make them the duo to watch.
- Mozza Magic: David Morris, a recruit from afar, has already won fans. With 116 recently and 80+ earlier in the season he is an excellent find for the club.
- Teghveer Seghal – witnessing Teg’s hitting, the club has never seen power as displayed at Gerrard’s Cross. The Chairman’s eyes were incapable of following the ball as it continually cleared the trees.
Looking Ahead
With the summer stretching into August, here’s what we’re eyeing:
- 1st XI: Secure four more wins to leapfrog at least two rivals.
- 2nd XI: Keep that momentum rolling – 2 or 3 more victory could catapult us into the promotion places.
- Club Spirit: Lets keep the good times rolling.
None of this happens without our incredible volunteers, grounds staff, scorers, bar team, sponsors and you—the members who cheer on rain or shine. Your support in the clubhouse and at the boundary makes Farnham Royal more than a club; it’s a community.
Here’s to a thrilling second half—good luck to all teams, and may every boundary, wicket and victory bring us closer to the dream finish. Let’s roar together!
Up the Royal!
