Reports, reaction & round-up: 23rd/24th August – Your guide to the Premier League Weekend Roundup
Champions Crowned
Several leagues confirmed their winners over the weekend:
- Harpenden lifted the Hertfordshire League title, belated recognition after their points system caused us confusion a week earlier.
- Bridgwater secured the West of England Premier League.
- St Cross Symondians stormed to the Southern Premier crown after thumping Bournemouth.
- Lowerhouse celebrated in absolute style, winning the Premier Division while their second XI clinched promotion. Fireworks, champagne, and budgie smugglers marked the occasion, with celebrations that will take some topping.
- Burnmoor sealed the North East Premier League.
These join previously crowned champions New Farnley (Bradford) and Horsham (Sussex).
Elsewhere, several leagues are still bubbling. South Wales has the closest race of all: just one point separates leaders Newport and challengers St Fagans, who meet this Saturday in what is effectively a grand final. The winner at Newport takes the title. In North Staffs & South Cheshire, the top four are covered by just 23 points, while only 16 points separate fifth from 11th — creating tension at both ends of the table.
Batting Highlights
It was another weekend where quality batting took centre stage:
- Neil Hornbuckle played the knock of the week with 192 from 152 balls for Swardeston in the East Anglian Premier. Unfortunately, his effort came in a losing cause as Mildenhall’s Tristan Blackledge hit 85 and took five wickets in a match-winning all-round display.
- Avishka Tharindu, who has re-signed for Bracebridge Heath next season, celebrated with 157.
- Shreyansh Ghosh (Hatherleigh) made 143* to continue a prolific summer, while Matt Campbell (Leek) showed his class with 106.
- Elandri van Rensburg, the young South African batter at Beckenham, smashed a 50-ball hundred — her third century of the season and a player worth watching closely.
- Runs flowed for overseas stars across Lincolnshire and beyond: Anshuman Raf (187 for Stanmore), Muhammad Tahir (169* for Woodhall Spa), Chanaka Ruwansiri (166* for Rushden & Higham Town), and Priyanshu Khanduri (165* for Scunthorpe). Stanmore in particular look unstoppable, hitting 427 against Harrow after 385 the previous week.
- Mattie McKiernan produced perhaps the weekend’s standout all-round display: 147 off 96 balls for Leigh against Ormskirk, before taking 5 wickets to complete the double. His form has been relentless.
- Liam Banks kept Hem Heath’s survival push alive with 112 in a high-stakes win over Porthill Park, underlining why he’s considered among the best club cricketers in the country.
- Elsewhere, familiar names continued to churn out runs including back to back tons for Gary Pratt (Richmondshire) who made 100* off 71 balls whilst George Hargrave of Shrewsbury made 131 off 117 balls.
Check out all the 2025 Premier League Leading Run Scorers HERE
Bowling Performances
If the batters enjoyed themselves, the bowlers weren’t far behind — in fact, it was arguably their weekend. More than 60 five-wicket hauls were recorded nationally, dwarfing the number of centuries.
- Shubhan Sharma (Barnard Castle) produced scarcely believable figures: 8–16 in just 6.3 overs against Middlesbrough. The wickets came quicker than the overs — a rarity at any level.
- Rohan Sanjaya (Caldy) bowled unchanged for 8–72, capping a season where he has already piled up wickets.
- Buddhika Sanjeewa (Conisbrough) grabbed 7–40, while Oscar Phillips (Flitwick) 7–21 and Matt Maloy (Hartlepool) 7–22 dismantled their opponents.
- Kalid Usman (Rainhill) continued his fine run with 7–35; Greg Stephens (Witham) also claimed 7–40; and Max Keogh, an Australian seamer at Golcar, took 7–43 in the Huddersfield League.
- Six-fors came thick and fast too: Dushan Vimukthi (Walsden) 6–20, Jermaine Blackwood (Norden) 6 wickets, and Larry Edward (Formby) again among the haul.
Check out all the 2025 Premier League Leading Wicket Takers HERE
All-Rounders of the Week
A string of players combined bat and ball to devastating effect:
- Mattie McKiernan (147 & 5 wickets) produced one of the performances of the season, ranked 4th in the all-rounder tables so far.
- Khalid Usman (76 & 7 wickets) and Tristan Blackledge (85 & 5) also put in match-winning shifts.
- Nicky Boje (Moorlands) chipped in with 59 & 6, while Chris Holliday (55 & 5) offered perfect symmetry.
Cup Competitions
The weekend also saw knockout action.
- In the ECB T20 regional finals, New Farnley were imperious in the north, overcoming Kendal in the semi before sweeping the final against Old Hill. They looked every bit as dominant as Northern did en route to last year’s crown. Down south, Wanstead & Snaresbrook prevailed in a run-fest against Exmouth, who almost chased down 260+ to book their place at Wormsley.
- At Wormsley itself, Norfolk won their first NCCA T20 title, defeating Dorset in a final full of runs. Dorset, already winners of the NCCA Trophy, ensured debate about which county has had the better season.
- Red-ball cricket also returns next weeend in the National Counties Championship, with Devon v Oxfordshire a potential straight shootout for a place in the final.
You can follow all the fixtures & results HERE (ECB National Club Championship
