The dream dies as Birkbeck deny Twickenham

Birkbeck College 303-7 (55 overs)      Z. Khan 112, Anu Agarwal 4-102

Twickenham     222 a/o (41.4 overs)   Garth Borain 45

Catches, so they say, win matches.  And with 9 of them going down during Birkbeck’s innings, it’s fair to say that not taking them costs games too.  The Ts, normally so strong in the field, had a collective bad day at the office as Birkbeck piled on the runs to end on a mammoth 303 off their full allocation of 55 overs.   The visitors’ overseas player, Zahir Khan, scored a classy 112 whilst opener Aamir Ishan contributed 66.  Twickenham gave the chase their all but in the face of good bowling it was always an uphill task; Benny Parer (32), Tom Guy (36) and Garth Borain (45) got decent starts, whilst Anu Agarwal bludgeoned a quickfire 25no at the end.  Ultimately the task nonetheless proved too great.  The Ts subsequently finish second behind Osterley and face another season condemned to Middlesex Championship cricket.

Birkbeck College might well have been off the title pace, but everyone at Twickenham knew that they posed a real threat to Twickenham’s title aspirations.  Birkbeck had easily defeated Dan Hough’s men 9 weeks previously, and over the years the men from Greenford have a very good record against the Ts.  The championship chasers would certainly have to be at the races.  Unfortunately, they weren’t.  Not in the field, anyway.  Number 4 Khan certainly batted beautifully for his 112, but he gave three chances and if any of them had been taken the story could have ended differently.  Ishan also played a series of bombastic drives and was good value for his 66, whilst I. Maan – one of four Maan brothers in the side – was much less fluent, but very effective for his 47.  Anu Agarwal did his best to stem the tide, claiming four scalps that, on another day, could have been 7 or 8.  Athar Khan also toiled long and hard, whilst Garth Borain manfully flung himself about in the field despite picking up a nasty leg injury.  Fair play to Gaaarf, no one’s been more committed to the cause than him, and he’s been a revelation during his first season with the Ts.

Given that Birkbeck knew Twickenham would have to go hell for leather for the total (only a win would see the Ts top the table if Osterley beat HSM – something they duly did) it made sense to bat the full 55 overs.  The Ts subsequently began their chase needing nearly 7 an over.  With Sati Dhaliwal departing in the first over and both opening bowlers nipping the ball around the Ts immediately found themselves on the back foot.  Parer (32 in 43 balls) and Guy (36 in 56 balls) did their best to work the ball around, whilst Borain – batting with a runner – stood and delivered (45 in 33 balls).  Indeed, with Borain at the wicket the Ts did feel that they had a chance.  But, ultimately the scoreboard pressure took its toil as batsman after batsman fell on his sword.  Borain succumbed at deep mid off, whilst Richie Brewin (19 in 21 balls) looped one to mid-wicket immediately after hitting a majestic straight six.  Matt Bendelow (12 in 21 balls) was run out, Steve Watts looked in decent nick but departed for 13 and Athar Khan (17 in 21 balls) was stumped.  With Hough and Agarwal at the crease Twickenham needed 122 off 8 overs – a formidable target and one that always looked impossible.  But, the draw being irrelevant, Hough blazed a couple of boundaries over cover whilst Agarwal hit hard and straight.  With 90 needed off 5 the game was nearly up, as Hough (17 off 12 balls) was bowled and last man Stu Amos was run out trying to achieve the impossible.

Ultimately, this was a disappointing day.  But the season as a whole has to go down as a successful one; the Ts won 11 games in total, and 7 of their final 9.  The side’s full of good cricketers who will no doubt bounce back next season to embark on another promotion charge.  Thanks again to everyone who played through the course of the season; your efforts have all been much appreciated.  Well done chaps!