TCC Sat. 3’s v. North Middlesex (Home) 19^th May 2007

With the inclement weather of the mid week finally clearing away Broom Road was bathed in sunshine at long last for the visit of North Middlesex . With a strong batting line-up the 3’s were backing themselves to chase any target so, upon winning the toss, Phil Parker inserted the opposition and took to the field optimistically. An early success for Jacques Grobler gave further hope of getting back in to watch the second half of the FA Cup Final, as Allen’s middle and off stumps were uprooted by a ball which cut back viciously off the seam from outside off stump (4 for 1). However, further success was hard to come by as NM’s other opener Shepherd and Skipper Kent developed a very handy second wicket partnership of 110. There continued to be very little for the bowlers on the slow wicket as successively, Grobler, Matt Huntingdon, and Tony Bendelow toiled away. TB finally made the breakthrough as Kent skied one to Matt Huntingdon for a comfortable catch for a well-struck but sometimes lucky 46 dragging many balls from outside off stump through the leg side. His departure brought Clarke to the wicket who proceeded to build another good partnership of 63 runs with Shepherd who was now cutting loose with strong shots all round the wicket. He eventually fell in Matt Huntingdon’s second spell to a sharp Grobler catch at deep extra cover. Unfortunately, when he returned to the pavilion he was no doubt disappointed to find that he was out on 99! A great knock nonetheless. The introduction of new man Travis Birtwhistle to accompany the ageless guile of Bill Wright at the other end served to slow down the scoring rate and despite the score at one stage reaching 219 for 4 the NM middle and lower order batsmen all failed miserably and were finally all out for 244 in the 51^st over leaving TCC a very gettable target in 49 overs. Travis finished with figures of 4 for 27 with Bill 3 for 45

After tea, during which the unedifying “other match” at Wembley had done nothing to keep the spectators in the tea room, Stuart Amos and Phil Parker took to the wicket. Following on from the previous week’s 74 run partnership they started solidly putting on 60 for the first wicket in about 15 overs. A farcical run-out caused the breakthrough as the relatively new opening partnership failed to get it’s calling quite right. Parker “walked” for a solid hitting 37. And typically of cricket, two further quick wickets followed as Amos “dolly-ed” one up for 18 and Colin Blunden was adjudged LBW in quick succession. Suddenly we were 64 for 3 with some consolidation being required. A measure of this came from a partnership of 48 runs between Steve Van Niekerk (15) and the increasingly impressive Travis Birtwhistle (45). Travis in particular, never looked in any danger at all with some attractive stroke-making all around the wicket and looks a fine new acquisition to the TCC ranks. During Travis’s innings we lost two further wickets cheaply and were teetering on the brink once again at 129 for 6. There were not too many thoughts of a run chase as Travis fell at 139 for 7 bringing Matt Huntingdon (ex-North Middx CC) to join Mark Smith at the wicket. Smudger had no thoughts about shutting up shop at this stage. A 54 run partnership ensued with Matt H contributing just three singles before (unluckily) getting caught at backward point (193-8). Three runs later Bill Wright had a severe rush of blood as he took off for a suicidal single after a big LBW shout from the oppo. Bill was run out (196-9) bringing run-machine Tony Bendelow to the crease with 8 overs still to be bowled. Smith continued to take his runs when he could whilst Tony kept it out at the other end. A magnificent 68 not out was finally recorded by Mark Smith as the T’s innings closed on 220 for 9 recording a battling 1 point in our quest for the league title. Nort Middlesex achieving the winning draw for 4 points. Next week we entertain Southgate CC, again at home.

Phil Parker.