Poor batting was to blame for the Sunday Club XI’s home defeat to Old Suttonians. After winning the toss skipper Freeman had no hesitation in batting first on what looked to be a good wicket at the Green. The Ts failed to capitalise and were bowled out for 100 – less than half of what was considered a par score.

After a late Saturday night call-up, Pat Mongan stepped into the breech to open the innings with Sunday regular Sanchez. Gilbert was promoted from the number three spot to open after his bold move to wear shorts for the first time in fifteen years proved to be a resounding success. Nice pins Gilly.

The first wicket fell in the fourth over with the score on 11 when Sanchez was caught behind driving off Wood. The number three, Donelan, fell in a similar fashion a few overs later, this time to the youngster O’Toole.

Freeman (female) came in at four and he was soon joined by Ollie Sewell who was making his senior debut. The skipper initially looked in good order, driving the ball convincingly. However, overconfidence got the better of him and he was bowled trying to pull a ball that wasn’t short enough for ten. The Ts were in serious trouble now, languishing in the thirties with their top four batsmen having perished.

Keeper Kriess came and went without troubling the scorers which left Andy Phillips and Sewell to try and begin a recovery. After looking rusty to begin with, Sewell began picking up ones and twos relatively easily. Phillips was more aggressive and the two shared a decent stand of 30 when Phillips was bowled for 18 trying to hit a full toss to Isleworth. Sewell was then bowled by a decent ball from spinner Wortley. It had been a decent return to the crease after a two and a half year absence from the game.

Twickenham were now 62 for 7 and were looking at being bowled out for under 75 when Bob Freeman fell for 6, caught after skying one. 70 for 8. After a good knock for the fives on Saturday, Marshall failed to continue his form and normal service was resumed when he was cleaned up without scoring of Lynch in the 25^th over. Mair strode to the crease to join Henderson and the two looked to bat out as many overs as possible. It certainly wasn’t going to bring the crowds back, but the two tailenders did well to eek out a 30 run partnership. Mair fell for 17 when the score was on 100 in the 39^th over, leaving Henderson 8 not out.

Tony Bendelow once again showed his never ending talents with a delightful tea. At the same time though, he lacks a different kind of ‘talent’ to be considered a great tea lady. A good selection of fruit, cakes and sandwiches was enjoyed by all.

With only two seam bowlers in the side and wickets needed, Freeman elected to open the bowling with Chris Marshall and off-spinner Phillips. Marshall found good movement early on but struggled to find his line. Phillips struggled with his length but still managed to force some false shots from the Suttonians.

The opening pair couldn’t find a breakthrough and Mair replaced Marshall from the Hampton Road end. The skipper bought himself on to bowl some right arm leg spin, or as some call it, filth from the Green Spice end. It looked to be a good decision, when, in his first over, Freeman took two wickets in two balls. Kriess took a simple catch behind the stumps after the opener Wrankmore (16) played too early. Next ball, T Wood lobbed a full toss to Mongan at mid-wicket. At 33-2 the Ts were striving at least to make Old Suttonians work for the victory but the remaining opener, Dagley, and number four, Broughton, batted well to steer Old Suttonians home.

Mair Bowled a good four over spell for twenty runs and perhaps deserved a wicket. Freeman’s remaining three overs were expensive and didn’t provide any wickets. His younger brother, Bob, didn’t have much luck either, bowling 2 overs for 16. Henderson tried to mix it up from the Green Spice end and his 2 overs went for 9.

Poor ground fielding accelerated Old Suttonians run rate and they passed the T’s paltry 100 in the 19^th over.

The Club XI was well beaten in a game with few highlights. If the T’s fortunes are going to change, they must expect more runs from their top order on wickets like this and they must also sharpen up in the field. Hopefully next week we will see a better performance against Alleyn Adhoc.