Cricket week kicks off with a bang as Twickenham edge past Harlequins in run bonanza

Twickenham CC’s 2007 cricket week kicked off in style as the Ts and Harlequins enjoyed a feast of run scoring on Twickenham Green.  The home side wracked up 307-4 in 40 overs with both Dan Hough and Mark Ryan enjoying welcome returns to form.  Harlequins gave good chase and, for a while, looked like they might run the Ts mammoth total close.  A tidy spell of slow-medium bowling from evergreen Tony Bendelow eventually put pay to their hopes as the rugby boys were eventually dismissed for 193.

With summer finally making a welcome appearance, the Ts batters enjoyed the pristine batting conditions to post a formidable total.  Mark Ryan blasted the ball to all corners of the ground for a stylish 59 whilst club secretary Dan Hough chipped in with his first century on the Green, ending on 107.  Matt Bendelow also enjoyed himself, contributing an energetic 41, while quickfire knocks from Matt Freeman (28no) and Howard McCann (22no) pushed the final total over the 300 mark.  Corrigan was the star man for the Quins, turning in good figures of 2-34 off 7 and also taking a stunning catch to get rid of the dangerous Ryan. 

The Quins reply got off to an electric start with Nick Whittington racing passed 50 before the tenth over had been and gone.  He was particularly brutal on anything short and, in partnership with number 3 Andy Lee, they soon took Quins past the 100 mark at a rate of 8 an over.  Skipper Hough chopped and changed his bowlers in the hope that he could find someone to dislodge the dangerous pair and, as has been so often the case over the years, it was Tony Bendelow who came up trumps.  Bendelow throttled the run rate and claimed both of the big wickets; Lee departing for 40 and Whittington for a bombastic 104.

With the two dangermen back in the pavilion, the Quins reply rapidly ran out of steam as Richie Saunders and Mark Ryan both took two wickets for four runs (although Ryan would’ve bagged three wickets if his captain could catch the ball!).  The final Quins wicket fell to youngster Bobby Freeman (2-27), bowling Chinamen from the Staines Road End, as Elton holed out at mid-on.

Many thanks to Dave Henderson for all his efforts in organising the days events and also to all those who turned out.  May the good weather and enjoyable cricket continue over the next 4 days!