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Run bonanza sees Chairman’s Day
end with exciting finish
The annual match between Jon
Varney’s Chairman’s XI and Twickenham CC ended in thrilling style
late on Thursday evening, with the Twickenham XI coming out
victorious with just one ball to spare. A marvellous century by JP
Cronje put Varney’s side in a strong position, but solid knocks from
Pete Carey and David Henderson’s backside saw the home team through
to a narrow victory.
The Chairman’s XI started the game
in anything other than confident style. Richie Payne, bowling from
the Staines Road End for the Ts, produced an excellent opening
spell, the highlight of which was his removal of Warwick Paull with
a real snorter of a delivery. Payne and Parer had Varney’s men
pinned down at 12-3 and then 34-4, but solid contributions from
Barnes (22) and Williams (31) steadied the ship. The innings really
began to take shape when J-P Cronje reached the crease. Cronje
bashed the ball to all corners of the ground to record his second
ever century, a well-deserved 116 not out. His 88 run partnership
with Barnsley’s finest, Steve Victory, enabled the Chairman’s XI to
close on an imposing 260-9 off 40 overs.
The Twickenham innings got off to
the most inauspicious start possible, with Don Campbell whacking a
rank long hop straight to Warwick Paull at cover. 0-1 off 1 ball.
Dan Hough and Stuart Amos looked to rebuild, before Hough (18) was
dismissed by a sparking Nick Whittington diving catch in the slips.
Al Storey contributed a quick 17 before Milne removed him, whilst
Ben Parer (15) looked well set until Whittington’s left arm tweak
caught the Aussie out.
Pete Carey came in at six and
immediately looked in decent nick. Amos’s departure for a compact
65 didn’t slow the scoring rate down, as Carey marshalled the strike
well, initially with Aly Vokes (18) and then with Richie Payne.
Both Cronje and Paull did their best to outfox the Christchurcher
and a superb contest between the three soon developed. Richie Payne
battled hard to do his bit, but Cronje eventually removed TCC’s
resident professor, bringing cricket week organiser Dave Henderson
to the wicket. 33 needed off 4 overs. The sight of overseas player
Carey and fifth team leg-spinner and club stalwart Henderson
battling away together was very much in the spirit of cricket week
and, after some excellent captaincy by Warwick Paull, the Ts
eventually needed 7 to win off the final over with Henderson
facing. Hendo lunged forward, flailed his bat at the ball, and
gratefully took the leg bye on offer after the ball ricocheted off
his behind. With Carey on strike, the Ts were favourites and, with
just one ball to spare, Carey (90no) drove the ball past mid off for
the winning runs.
This game was a marvellous exhibition of what
cricket week is supposed to be about. Plenty of good cricket,
plenty of good spirit and also a genuine competitive edge. All
good, bring on cricket week 2008 … |
