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2007 ends with run-feast on the
Green
Twickenham
ended the 2007 season in good weather, good form and good spirits in
a highly entertaining encounter with near-neighbours Sunbury on the
Green. Srinjoy De and Matt Bendelow enjoyed themselves with the
bat, breezily blazing the ball all round the ground and, although a
youthful Sunbury side gave good chase, the Ts had enough in the
locker to get home with room to spare.
The
Twickenham innings was dominated by the opening pair of De and
Bendelow junior. Srinjoy, fresh from having spent three weeks in
Australia, batted very much as if Adam Gilchrist was his role model,
hitting fours at will and sixes with a degree of regularity. The
ball sailed over the short mid-wicket boundary at frequent
intervals. De raced passed 50 in the 13th over and it
wasn’t long before a well-deserved century beckoned. However, just
as Srinjoy was thinking through those celebrations he succumbed to
Bedi, caught and bowled for 98. Nitin Parab came and went quickly
at three, as did Matt Huntington at four, but the ever-reliable Nik
Walder proved a steady partner for Bendelow.
Although
Bendelow had stared in the Moorland United (including a number of
TCC players) 18-0 (yes, that was 18) victory in the Chiswick Sunday
League in the morning and had played the day cricket on the Green
against Kempton the day before, he was not too exhausted to take on
the senior role. Once he’d passed 50 he began to let really loose.
One ball almost hit the church, another cleared the sightscreen at
the Green Spice End with ease. Bendelow was also not going to make
the mistake that De did, taking his time through the 90s, and on to
a well deserved first century for the club. As the innings closed
Bendelow remained unbeaten on 113 with Walder on 15 and the Ts on an
imposing 253 off 35.
An
exquisite tea by Bendelow senior unexpectedly forced Twickenham
skipper Dan Hough into an immediate bowling change. Matt Huntington
declared that the tea had been far too large and the act of eating
it simply too taxing, and he’d therefore be keen on a slot as first
change. The skipper himself took the new ball as a result,
alongside ever-reliable Pete Burke. Sunbury got off to a good
start, Cross and McDonald driving the ball nicely. In his first
over Hough served up rich palate of buffet bowling that was almost
on a par with the excellent tea. Thankfully things did get a little
better, McDonald (19) scooping up to Pete Burke at mid off and
skipper Scott departed leg before for (1).
Cross
carried on regardless, playing some excellent on drives and
generally timing the ball immaculately. Verender also looked to be
positive and although behind the run rate, Sunbury were still just
enough in touch to have hope that they might pull off an unlikely
win. These hopes suffered a setback when the in form De (2-10)
claimed a couple of wickets from the Hampton Road End and
ever-reliable Tony Bendelow (2-13) removed the dangerous Cross
(67). The wickets, however, kept falling and even though Sunbury
kept the chase up Twickenham cruised to victory in relatively
unflustered fashion. Holger Kriess chipped in to remove Bedi for
10, whilst Pete Burke’s leg spin (!) saw off Buggby for 22. The
game eventually came to a close with Nicholls elegantly stroking his
way to an unbeaten half-century and the Ts to a reasonably
comfortable last day victory.
Well done
to all who have been involved with the club this year, it’s been a
pretty successful season across the board. Paul Johnson’s
gargantuan efforts in co-ordinating selection for 5 Saturday sides
(ministries of state take less organising than that) deserves a
special mention, as does both Tony Bendelow’s truly fantastic
playing surfaces (and very nice teas) and Richie Payne/Dave
Henderson Sunday 2nds efforts. Special mention to for Audrey’s fine
effort of doing not one but two teas every Saturday. Good work one
and all. Enjoy the 28 weeks of shopping folks, and bring on 2008 …
By Dan
Hough |
