UKAFCA Men

Burgher Recreation Club, Colombo, Sri Lanka

ACE Capital CC 166-8 (T Shorthouse 3-29; R Dearden 2-28)
UKAFCA 167-2 (G Wiseman 111; L Fletcher 36*)
UKAFCA won by 8 wickets

UKAFCA opened the 2025 tour of Sri Lanka with a convincing victory over ACE Capital CC.
Capital won the toss and elected bat. Three dropped catches in the opening 4 overs looked to have proved costly with Capital moving quickly to 30 without loss before LBdr Jake Benson (47 Regt RA) made the breakthrough. With the scoring rate increasing, Capital were again pegged back with 2 wickets in quick succession falling to the spin of WO2 Ross Dearden (21 Engr Trg Wng) and SSgt Jay Boynton (102 REME). Rebuilding, the home side moved to 99 before Pte Denzel James (47 Regt RA) picked up the fourth wicket. The reintroduction of spin with Cpl Tom Shorthouse (5001 Sqn) picked up another wicket with a smart catch from debutant Mne Fin Marks (47 Cdo RM) to leave the innings in the balance at 103-5 in the twelfth over. Capital rebuilt, reaching 144 before 3 wickets fell without further score; Shorthouse picking up 2 wickets in 2 balls and Dearden his second wicket with a sharp caught and bowled. Late order runs took the score to 166-8 at the close of the innings.
The UKAFCA reply started disastrously with Shorthouse removed first ball of the innings. His dismissal brought Sgt Graham Wiseman (12 Regt RA) to the crease. Batting out a maiden over, Wiseman proceed to score 50 from the next 14 balls, bringing up his half century in 19 balls. Ably supported by Cpl Luke Fletcher (4MI), Wiseman continued to score fluently, smashing 6 fours and 12 sixes on his way to a 42 ball century; his third for UKAFCA. When Wiseman was dismissed for 111 in the fourteenth over, the score stood at 155, leaving Fletcher and Flt Lt Adam Fisher (45 Sqn) to take to UKAFCA to victory with almost 5 overs to spare.

MoM: Wiseman (111 in 49 balls, 74 minutes; 6 x 4, 12 x 6).

Nondescripts Cricket Club, Colombo, Sri Lanka

UKAFCA 314-5 (A Fisher 127*, B Johnston 94, T Shorthouse 30)
Chilaw Marians 315-5 (J Benson 2-61, T Shorthouse 2-62)
Chilaw Marians CC won by 5 wickets

UKAFCA suffered a narrow defeat against strong first class opposition.
Winning the toss, UKAFCA elected to bat at Nondescripts CC, one of the most prestigious clubs in Sri Lanka and home to a host of Sri Lankan cricket legends including Kumar Sangakarra, Aravinda de Silva and Russell Arnold.
Sgt Ross Diver (51 Sqn) was run out early to an excellent piece of ground fielding before Fletcher fell with the score on 36 for a well compiled 27. When Wiseman fell shortly after with the score on 47, Shorthouse joined Fisher, and the 2 rebuilt, adding 74 for the fourth wicket. Looking to increase the scoring rate, Shorthouse was bowled for 30 in the twenty second over. At 121-4 at halfway stage, the innings needed impetus and AET Ben Johnston (845 NAS) provided it. Fisher passed 50 in 58 balls as the fluent Johnston scored quickly, bringing up 50 in 48 balls. The 2 accelerated, scoring consistently at 10 an over with Fisher bringing up his hundred in 98 balls. The 2 had added 177 before Johnston fell unselfishly looking to add late runs just 6 short of his own century, his 94 coming from just 67 balls. The innings closed with Fisher unbeaten on 127, his first century for UKAFCA in a remarkable feat of endurance, batting for 3 hours in 35 degree heat.
In reply, Marians capitalised in the powerplay, scoring quickly with UKAFCA seemingly unable to stem the flow of runs. James made a breakthrough in the fourth over but the score passed a hundred before Benson picked up the second wicket, Johnston taking a smart catch to leave Marians 102-2 in the thirteenth over. A hundred run partnership was again broken by Benson, leaving Marians 110 short with 16 overs to go. Shorthouse picked up 2 quick wickets but the scoring rate remained unchecked and 5 wickets down, 56 was required in 7 overs. A series of half-chances never quite went to hand and Marians passed the UKAFCA total with 9 balls to spare to win by 5 wickets in a compelling and fiercely competitive match.

MoM: Fisher (127 in 116 balls, 175 mins; 13 x 4, 3 x 6)

Royal College Sports Ground, Colombo, Sri Lanka

UKAFCA 264-7 (A Fisher 91, L Fletcher 46)
Saracens CC 206 AO (J Benson 3-23; J Boynton 3-38)
UKAFCA won by 56 runs

UKAF returned to winning ways with a hard-fought victory over Saracens CC.
UKAF lost the toss and were invited to bat. A strong opening attack accounted for Diver early leaving Fletcher and Fisher to rebuild, the pair adding 109 for the second wicket before Fletcher fell for 46. Shorthouse and Marks both looked comfortable but departed when well set for 25 and 14 respectively. As wickets fell at the other end, Fisher continued to score fluently, bringing up a his 50 in 56 balls and looked set for a second successive century before a sharp catch at backward square leg saw him fall for an impressive 91. UKAF had looked well set for a score of over 300 but the loss of Fisher was followed by James and Johnston, stifling the scoring rate and leaving Sgt Denson Narayan (23 (Para) Engr Regt) and Boynton to close the innings at 264 with an unbroken stand of 37 for the eighth wicket.
In reply, Saracens made a solid start with tight bowling in the powerplay restricting the scoring rate to 5 an over. Shorthouse made the breakthrough in the thirteenth over before James struck in his first over to leave Saracens 72-2. The scoring rate increased and momentum was firmly with the home side before Shorthouse struck twice in 3 balls with the score at 141. Saracens again rebuilt and the score passed 200 before a remarkable collapse that saw 6 wickets fall for 8 runs in 18 balls, Benson picking up 3 wickets to finish with superb figures of 3-23 and Boynton taking the final wicket in his 3-38.

MoM: Benson (9-0-23-3)

MCC Lord’s Foundation Cricket Ground, Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka

Foundation of Goodness Cricket Academy 154 AO (Narayan 4-10; T Shorthouse 2-27)
UKAFCA 158-9 (B Johnston 38)
UKAFCA won by 1 wicket

UKAF edged out the Foundation of Goodness Cricket Academy with a thrilling one wicket victory.
Winning the toss, the Foundation elected to bat and scored quickly, moving to 40 in 4 overs before the introduction of Narayan brought about 2 quick wickets to reduce the home side to 46-2. Shorthouse and Narayan struck again and at 56-4, UKAF were firmly on top. The Foundation continued to score fluently despite wickets falling and had reached 134-5 with 5 overs remaining before the innings lost its momentum and the remaining 5 wickets fell for 20 runs. Narayan finished with a superb 4-10 supported by a much-improved fielding display and sharp catching.
In reply, Shorthouse and Wiseman started quickly, taking 33 from the first 2 overs before Wiseman fell, caught behind. Johnston joined Shorthouse and the 2 scored at 15 an over, taking the score to 91 in the sixth over before Johnston fell for 38 from just 16 balls. Shorthouse (28) departed with the score at 102, followed by Sutcliffe (24 from 13 balls). UKAF slumped from 127-3 to 149-9 with the middle and lower order collapsing around Marks. When number 11 Benson joined him at the crease, 6 were required and UKAF were helped by 5 wides before Marks hit the winning runs in a tense end to the game to finish unbeaten on 17.

MoM: Narayan (3.3-0-10-4)

General Belagalle Stadium, Karandeniya, Sri Lanka

Karandeniya Sports Club 159 AO (D Narayan 4-32; T Shorthouse 2-10; J Benson 2-37)
UKAF 155 AO (A Fisher 47)
Karandeniya Sports Club won by 4 runs

UKAF narrowly beaten in a low scoring encounter.
Following heavy rain overnight that flooded the ground, a delayed start resulted in a reduction to 35 overs per side. Karandeniya won the toss and elected to bat, making quick progress against the new ball before Benson struck in the fourth over with the score at 27. As the new ball softened, it became clear that the pitch would be difficult to score on with variable bounce and a two-paced surface challenging the batsmen. Karandeniya moved to 64 before Shorthouse continued his superb form with ball, picking up the second wicket. Narayan was introduced and he followed up his man of the match performance the day before with the first of 4 wickets with the score at 90. Shorthouse picked up his second to leave the home side 108-4 with 15 overs left. The home side then slumped from 130-4 to 159 all out with Narayan, Dearden, Benson and James all picking up wickets regularly to stem the scoring rate and limit Karandeniya to 159.

The first innings had demonstrated how hard it was to score, particularly against spin and 159 looked a challenging chase. Fletcher was removed cheaply by a superb delivery and Diver toiled for 4 from 27 balls before falling to a ball that reared up of the pitch and clipped the shoulder of the bat before carrying to slip. Shorthouse – usually so fluent – found it equally tough, making 11 from 39 balls. Fisher played patiently for his 47 from 61 balls but when he departed in the twenty fourth over, the score was 83-4 and 159 looked some way off. Wiseman (20 from 8) brought the run rate down but he, Johnston and Marks all departed to leave UKAF needing 22 from 4 overs with 3 wickets left. James hit 2 sixes before falling for 23 from 17, and UKAF needed 16 from 3. Sutcliffe was run out and with 7 required from the last over and then 5 from 2 balls, before Dearden holed out to mid on to leave the tourists 4 short in a highly competitive match.

MoM: Dearden (7-0-15-1)