As the great Jimmy Greaves used to say 'it's a
funny old game',and this phrase was certainly appropriate for The
2's clash at Osterley.
On arriving for their first visit at Osterleys
'spiritual' home,T's were pleasantly surprised to find a tidy
ground that had obviously had alot of time and money spent on it
to bring it up to standard.
Still smarting from last weeks disapointing
defeat at MTSSC,T's were looking to bounce back to winning
ways,and were asked to take first use of the wicket.
Openers Aly Vokes and Eddie Paxton were met with
some hostile bowling from Salvesh in particular,and it wasn't long
before he was making inroads into the visitors order,removing
Paxton,LBW for 4.Vokes was severe on anything short,pulling Navid
for two huge sixes over mid wicket,but no batsman looked
comfortable against Salvesh,and when he removed Stuart Amos,clean
bowled for 9,and Jimmy Liebenberg,caught at cover for 10,T's were
wobbling on 41 for 3.
One veteran joined another,as Steve Victory
joined Vokes,and these two wily campaingers kept the board ticking
nicely,until Vokes was rather harshly adjudged LBW for 36.
Matt Bendelow soon became Salvesh's fourth
victim,as he went without scoring,leaving the T's in some trouble
at 77 for 5.
Skipper Paul Johnson entered the fray knowing
that a possible 32 overs still remained,and that his side were in
danger of being skittled for a below par score.So he and Victory
batted sensibly,waiting for the bad ball,but showing extra caution
to anything else.They took the score to 114,before Victory was
trapped LBW by Mandip for 28.
Next up was Richie Saunders,who carried on where
Victory left off.He preceded to play a pivotal innings,showing
plenty of guts,against the still steaming in Salvesh,but putting
away any loose balls that came his way.
The score moved on to 145,before Johnson
misjudged the line,shouldering arms to a ball that cut back from
Atta,to be bowled for 30.
Saunders then decided to up the anti,hitting
some lusty blows over mid on,and the score shot up to 175,before
youngster Ben Smith,who'd showed plenty of composure,was unlucky
to be run out with a direct hit from the boundary for 3.
Saunders then fell on his sword,skying a catch
to cover,for an excellent 33,giving Salvesh a 'Michelle' in the
process.When Paul Cassidy was run out without scoring,Twickenham
had reached 177 all out off 52 overs,probably just about par.
A delightful tea was enjoyed,after which
Twickenham took to the field knowing early inroads were needed,and
that Osterley were going to come at them in there usual aggresive
manner.
They got exactly what they were after when
Cassidy got one to spit off a length in the third over,and Wakheel
could only glove it to Aly Vokes at first slip.
That man Salvesh came in at number 3,and proved
he could bat a bit aswell,playing some brutal on drives on
anything remotely over pitched.Along with opener Aman,he
threatened to take the game away from the T's,and it came as
somewhat of a relief when he got struck by cramp,and had to go off
retired hurt.
Replacement Mudhai,played a couple of big
shots,before he held out at deep mid off to Johnson off
Cassidy.But Osterley were still in a dominant position at 60 for
2.
Mandip joined Aman,and continued the
onslaught,and in a somewhat state of desperation,Johnson brought
himself on to replace Cassidy.
It payed instant dividends,as Aman skyed a catch
to Matt Bendelow at cover off his first over.
Skipper Nadeem then came to the crease,and along
with Mandip, took the score to 'nelson',111,before....the game
changed!
Jimmy Liebenberg,who'd been bowling excellently
for the 2nd week running,removed the dangerous Mandip,snaffled by
Richie Saunders at square leg,and the prize wicket of the
returning Salvesh,bowled for 32,in the same over.
Johnson then went one better,picking up three
wickets in one over.Nadeem,caught by a tumbling Stuart Amos at mid
wicket,Atta,stumped first ball by James Jordan,and Perera plum
LBW.
Four batsmen in a row had gone for ducks,with
the game completely turned on it's head.
It was then only a matter of time before
Twickenham finished it off,and that duely happened with a full 17
overs remaining,when first Johnson clean bowled Vinod,and then had
Navid caught by Liebenberg at silly mid off,to set off some crazy
celebrations.
Osterley had amazingly lost their last 7 wickets
for just 7 runs!,being dismissed for 118.
Johnson finished with incredible figures of 6
for 28,with Liebenberg,2 for 28,and Cassidy 2 for 29 ,the other
wicket takers.
In a game where Twickenham looked dead and
buried,this has to be one of the most remarkable turnrounds in
memory,and was truly a team effort.
It gives them fresh confidence,for the vital
clash with Birkbeck next week,which will go a long way in
determining their title hopes.
Johno
