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Ts stroll to 101 run victory in
Thameside League meeting with Chertsey
The Ts enjoyed a resounding 101
run success in their debut encounter in the Thameside Sunday
League. Consistent batting throughout the side set Chertsey a
formidable target of 281 to win in 45 overs; a challenge they never
looked likely to master as the Ts cruised home with plenty to spare.
The day was warm, the track
appeared to be flat and few players were relishing the prospect of
fielding on a pretty worn outfield. It looked like a day that was
made for batting first and when Chertsey skipper Stuart Eagles
successfully called tails, Ts skipper Dan Hough feared the worst.
45 overs of toil on the not so green grass of home looked to be
looming large. Eagles, however, had other ideas and asked
Twickenham to bat first, no doubt backing his side to chase down
whatever score Twickenham posted. The Ts batsmen gratefully padded
up and set to work.
Mark Johnson and Eddie Paxton set
the ball rolling for Twickenham, manoeuvring the ball nicely into
the gaps. Johnson timed the ball sweetly behind square whilst
Paxton launched a number of bombastic drives. Their steady
partnership came to an end when the score was on 25 as Johnson was
adjudged leg before for 10, but Stuart Amos quickly settled at the
crease and it was not long before the Ts cruised passed the 50
mark. Paxton survived one life when he was dropped at point, but he
succumbed soon afterwards for a well made 34. It was good to see
one of the Ts longest serving members return to form. Hough came in
at four and although he timed a few drives nicely, he was soon back
in the hutch (19) after looping up a soft catch off the right arm
medium pace of Shepherd. Storey and Scriven both threatened to
cause some carnage before perishing, leaving the promoted Scott
Perry to up the tempo.
The partnership between Perry and
Amos swung the game very much Twickenham’s way. Amos was content to
act as the backbone, whilst Perry took the attack to the Chertsey
bowlers. Perry – in an innings that was reminiscent of his
remarkable 100 at Esher in 2005 – clubbed the ball brutally, whether
it be through straight mid wicket, straight down the ground or
square on the leg side. Perry was clearly in no mood for
pussyfooting around. Amos’s dismissal for a well crafted 53 (77
balls) did little to slow the momentum, bringing Pete Carey to the
crease. Fresh from his demolition of Kenton the day before, Carey
joined Perry in moving the innings into overdrive. They ran well
between the wickets and smacked the ball to all parts of the Green.
Perry steamed passed 50 (37 balls) with another booming six, as the
score moved passed 200 and then – at a rate of knots – 250. The
innings eventually came to a close with Perry on 77no (52 balls) and
Carey 38no (25 balls) and the Ts in an imposing position.
Chertsey made it clear that they
were going to try to be positive from the beginning, and both
openers, Peeroo and Cole, played with aggressive intent. Perry and
Matt Huntington initially struggled a little to get their lines
right, but once Huntington dismissed the left handed Cole – caught
smartly in the gulley by Amos for 17 – Twickenham’s version of
William Hague tightened things up considerably. His line was
nagging and the length consistent, enabling him to claim a second
wicket – from a second catch in the gulley by Amos – as Pittard
prodded away outside off stump.
Slowly but surely Chertsey were
falling behind the rate. Huntington (2-27 off 7) and Perry (0-20
off 5) finished their opening spells, as Ts skipper Dan Hough opted
for the wily leg spin of Al Storey at the Pavilion End and the
lively pace of Justin Scriven from the Staines Road end. Storey
immediately dropped on a decent length, periodically throwing the
ball up above the batsman’s eyeline, tempting them to try and force
the pace. It was only a matter of time before someone took up the
challenge; and this the number four Pulling did, skying a steepler
to Dan Hough at short fine leg to give the Saturday 2nds captain his
first wicket of the day. Scriven soon claimed the fourth scalp of
the innings as Loveridge was caught and bowled for 1 before Storey
removed Powlesland and Frith before either had reached double
figures.
123-6 did not bode well for the
visitors, although for as long as opener Peeroo was there they no
doubt felt they had a chance. His long vigil was brought to an end
by the cagey off spin of Eddie Paxton, bowled playing a pretty ugly
hoik for 68. This was the signal for Hough to allow a few
experiments; Perry bowled four overs of left arm finger spin
(apparently that’s what it was), Scriven bowled a bit of leg spin
and the skipper himself armed a few seamers down. The wickets
continued to tumble, Scriven taking the final one of Ogle thanks to
the champagne moment of the day, a well taken Mark Johnson catch at
square leg.
The Ts can certainly be very happy
with their performance in this resounding victory. Stuart Amos
batted very sensibly, providing the innings with some backbone,
whilst Scott Perry and Pete Carey kept the crowd entertained with
some excellent stroke play at the end of the innings. Perry in
particular showed that he has real ability with the bat and everyone
at Twickenham is hoping to see replicas of this innings on a
Saturday sometime soon. The Ts bowled and fielded well, and
Chertsey were never really able to work up a head of steam. The
next Thameside League fixture is on 24th June against
current champions East Molesey.
Dan Hough |
