TCC Sunday Club eleven versus Olinda Vandals (2007/06/17)

The TCC club eleven maintained winning ways with a decent result against Olinda Vandals this weekend. Formidable batting by Donelan was backed up by an excellent all round bowling performance to yield a 102 run win in a limited overs game on Twickenham Green.

The day began poorly as skipper Payne lost the toss, but brightened immediately as the Ts were asked to take first knock. Quantrill and Donelan opened up and the first over was played out for a maiden. Over two confounded the amateur bookmakers in the pavilion as Donelan (odds on not to get bat on ball before the sixth over) opened the scoring with a straight six off Foreman. Shock gave way to disappointment a couple of overs later, however, as Quantrill was clean bowled by the same bowler. This brought the improving Parab to the crease. Donelan and Parab batted well and maintained a steady scoring pace so that by the 13^th over the Ts were 58 for 1 and the batters were looking well set to push on. All was to change in the next over. Parab, having looked extremely comfy thus far, managed to kick the ball onto his stumps. Prescott then joined Donelan in the middle but two overs later was back in the hutch having chopped on a delivery from the Vandals’ first change bowler, Tribe.

By now the Ts were 16 overs into their innings and had 71 on the board. Chris Phillips was the fresh Twickenham batter but, after sticking around for 5 overs, he was to perish to a scarcely believable tumbling catch by Blyth at mid-on. New boy McCann was next in. McCann showed promise with the bat, accompanying Donelan for a few overs and during this time, the big albino reached a solid and vital half century. McCann was to perish, caught behind for 11, three overs later.

Thus, at 116 for 5, Twickenham’s position was looking less than secure. The returning Porter came and went quickly, contributing 5 to a 20 run partnership. The hard-hitting Thatcher was next up, entering the fray with the score at 136 for 6. A few boshes later, he and Donelan had put on 20 for the seventh wicket before the quick bowler skied a simple catch off the bowling of Brown.

Blindfolds were donned and a nosebleed quenched as Payne took to the middle batting at 9 in the 32^nd over and with the score on 156. Unexpectedly, through a combination of proper cricket shots (Donelan) and agriculture (Payne), the Ts reached the 40 over mark without the loss of another wicket, recording a score of 205 for 7. Donelan carried his bat for an excellent 81* while Payne mowed his way to a grace-less 31*.

Tea was a very pleasant affair, judged B+ by the Hendo-less team.

The Ts players took the field knowing that they would need to work hard to defend 205. Thatcher opened the bowling from the Green Spice end, supported by Payne from the Pavilion end. The Vandals opening bats started positively with Baker, in particular, smacking anything loose or short over the top. However, he was to perish in the third over, clean bowled for 10 by the impressive Thatcher. The big quick bowler’s fan club soon had more to cheer as he went on to rattle the stumps of the remaining opener, Fenwick. This brought the Vandals skipper, Fenton, to the crease with the score in the 20s and two wickets down. Fenton started well, punishing anything leg-side and blocking the good balls. However, a couple of overs later he was on his way back to the Pavilion, having been given out caught behind off the bowling of Payne.

When wicketkeeper Porter snaffled a simple chance to dismiss the Vandals number 3 bat, the oppo were in trouble at 40 odd for four and Thatcher had his third wicket. 40 odd for 4 soon became 50 odd for 6 as Payne clean bowled the Vandals number 5, Tribe, for 2 and Thatcher did for Fenton junior with an exquisite slower ball.

With the Ts well on top, the skipper changed the bowling from both ends, bringing the swing twins of Marshall and Chidwick into the attack. Both produced a bit of wobble and a touch of spin but only Chidwick was to be rewarded. He cleaned up the number 8 bat, Blyth, who had walloped a quick 14, and then induced an edge from Pollard, which Prescott took low down at second slip.

The coup de grace was delivered by debutant McCann who had replaced Marshall from the Green Spice end. First he removed Brown for a duck, to leave the Vandals nine down, before claiming the final wicket courtesy of a regulation catch at mid-off by Payne. In total, the Vandals managed 103 all out.

All in all, a very good result for the Ts. Donelan’s 81* was the obvious batting highlight but the bowling and fielding were excellent all round. Thatcher returned impressive figures of 6-0-28-4, ably supported by Payne (6-1-17-2), Chidwick (6-0-24-2) and McCann (2.2-0-4-2). The club eleven are back on the Green next weekend against Chessington, before taking to the road for the majority of July.