The weather’s the winner as top of the table clash is abandoned

Bessborough    89-4 (33.1 overs)         Dan Hawes 29, Warwick Paull 2-15

Twickenham    dnb

The top of the table clash between Bessborough and Twickenham at Headstone Manor ended in stalemate as rain depressingly washed out proceedings.  As the dire weather set in, Twickenham were probably in the better position, but the Bessborough batters were doing their best to grit it out on a decidedly difficult track.  Had the rain stayed away, this could’ve been a pretty interesting encounter.

If anything conclusive came out of Saturday’s trip to Bessborough, it is that sat navs are not to be trusted.  Jon Varney’s men almost spent more time circling round the streets of north-west London looking for Bessborough’s picturesque ground than they did fighting it out with their nearest rivals on the pitch.  Once the Ts did fathom out how to get there, Varney once again managed to call correctly and the Ts unsurprisingly had a bowl. 

The track was a juicy one.  The dampness ensured that tennis ball bounce was a regular feature, as was the occasional grubber.  Despite the fact that the outfield was surprisingly – given all the rain – quick, this was not going to be a day when run-scoring would come easily.  It didn’t take long for the Ts to make an early breakthrough, Justin Scriven trapping Clarke leg before for 1.  Ryan Combrinck, meanwhile, bowled with plenty of fire in support, generating plenty of bounce and twice nearly decapitating the number three, Sherrick Chavda, with balls that pitched just back of a length.  Chavda, to his credit, continued to put his foot down the track and take whatever hits came his way and, once he’d survived a torrid initial period, he settled nicely.  The Middlesex 2nds player showed that he had a good eye for a short ball, pulling Justin Scriven over mid wicket for 6 and Combrinck for a couple more nice boundaries.  He looked a class act and it’d be interesting to see him bat on a better surface.

Chavda and opener Dan Hawes took the score up to the 50 mark before Chavda (23) did well to snick a brutish delivery from the recently introduced Warwick Paull into the ever-reliable gloves of Varney.  Hawes – who’d shown considerable patience against the awkward off spin of JP Cronje – eventually misjudged a jaffa of a delivery from the South African tweaker and lost his off stump with the score on 68. 

By now, the weather conditions were worsening.  There was drizzle in the air and dark clouds hovering above.  Ian Barrie – the Ts tormentor in the earlier fixture between these sides in 2007 – came in and nonetheless looked to be positive, easing Cronje through the covers for four first ball.  However, it wasn’t long before Barrie and Werner Botha, batting at four, were taking plenty of hits for the cause; Botha was quite prepared to get forward and collect the bruises, while Barrie had to deal with some wildly erratic bounce from Paull in particular.  One ball in particular hit Barrie’s shoulder from a drivable length and the young batter could do nothing about a shooter from Paull that trapped him leg before for 11. 

Barrie’s dismissal was the last action of the day.  The heavens opened, the ducks started swimming in the puddles on the outfield and the players concentrated on polishing off a magnificent tea.  Given that all other games in MCCL Division Three were rained off, it is as you were at the top.  Twickenham entertain third placed North Middlesex on the Green next week.

Dan Hough