By Emdad Rahman
The summer sun shone bright over Ilford Cricket Club as the borough’s finest young cricketers assembled for the annual Barking and Dagenham Borough 6 a side cricket competition. A festival of flair, inclusivity, and passion, the tournament featured Year 7, 8, 9, and girls’ competitions, bringing together cricketing talent from across the borough in a format designed to encourage explosive batting, sharp fielding, and above all, full team participation.
This year’s competition saw fierce participation from Warren, Eastbury, Eastbrook, Riverside, Sydney Russell, Robert Clack, Greatfields, Jo Richardson, and eventual champions Barking Abbey. The short 5 over format provided a thrilling spectacle in every match, with narrow victories, dramatic chases, and moments of individual brilliance lighting up the turf.
From the outset, Barking Abbey showcased their credentials with a fearless approach, choosing to chase in all their pool stage matches. One game in particular saw them needing 40 off the final over – a near impossible task, but thanks to calm heads and clean striking, they got over the line, setting the tone for the rest of their campaign.
Key performances in the group stages came from Mohammed Shahzad Abbasi, whose consistency with the bat was pivotal, including a crucial 20+ score in that tense chase. Musa Ahsan tore through batting lineups with a stunning over that yielded three wickets, finishing as the tournament’s top wicket taker.
The heartbeat of Barking Abbey’s campaign, however, was their disciplined bowling unit. Kunsh Arora, Furqan Ahmed, Zakariya Mohammed Shiraz, and Dylan Seaton executed their plans with remarkable precision, rarely giving away easy runs and building pressure with every over.
In the final, Barking Abbey were asked to bat first – unfamiliar territory after a series of successful chases. But any nerves were quickly settled by an explosive partnership that will live long in tournament folklore. Shahzad stood tall with an unbeaten 20, while Furqan Ahmed, supported ably by the likes of Saif Jamil unleashed mayhem, smashing an incredible 49 not out from just 15 balls, laced with four towering sixes. The pair propelled Barking Abbey to a mammoth 76 in their 5 overs – a total that would prove beyond reach.
The final was sealed with an equally commanding display in the field. Furqan turned up the heat with a ferocious spell clocking in the mid 60s mph, claiming an early breakthrough. Dylan then triggered a key dismissal, inducing a top edge that was brilliantly caught by Mohammed Ihsan Hossain, the outstanding wicketkeeper of the tournament. Then came a moment of pure athleticism as Zakariya Mohammed Shiraz plucked a rocket of a shot high to his right off Shahzad’s bowling, a catch that epitomised Barking Abbey’s commitment and focus.
A complete team effort secured the win, but there was no denying the standout performer. With bat and ball, Furqan Ahmed was a class apart, and rightly earned the Player of the Tournament award for his all round brilliance and that unforgettable 49 off 15.
Barking Abbey Squad: • Zakariya Mohammed Shiraz • Mohammed Shahzad Abbasi • Dylan Seaton • Furqan Ahmed • Saif Jamil • Mohammed Ihsan Hossain • Musa Ahsan • Kunsh Arora
Speaking after the triumph, the team coach Haaris Ayub reflected proudly on the journey; “The boys thoroughly deserved their win for their commitment to training – from early morning indoor sessions in winter to summer nets on Tuesdays and Fridays.
“It was a real team performance; accuracy with the ball, discipline in the field, and contributions with the bat. The boys are a joy to teach and coach. I hope playing this tournament at the historic Ilford Cricket Club shows them and others how accessible joining local cricket clubs can be.”
The Barking & Dagenham 6 a side tournament once again proved that grassroots cricket in East London is alive and thriving.
For Barking Abbey, the trophy is more than silverware – it is a testament to dedication, unity, and belief.