Ts slip to defeat in damp and dreary encounter at Osterley

Twickenham 154-8 in 38 overs              (Garth Borain 3Ben Parer 26, Asad 6-69)

Osterley      155-3 in 24.4 overs            (Sirfaraz 38, M. Suraweera 37no)

The Ts slipped to a second defeat of the season on an eminently forgettable day at Osterley.  Ben Parer (26) and an entertaining knock from debutant Garth Borain (34no) were the highlights of a below par batting display, whilst Asad (6-69) toiled manfully for Osterley.  Forceful hitting from the Osterley top order soon saw them well above the rate, and the hosts ultimately cruised home with over five overs to spare.

Cricket wasn’t really meant to be played on days like this.  Heavy overcast skies, rain in the air and a chill wind blowing in from what felt like the Arctic.  Not good.  Many sides may well have given up the ghost and gone home to enjoy a cup of Bovril, but Twickenham and Osterley both realised that with points to play for it was important to give the weather a chance to improve.  And this it eventually did.  Just.  And play ultimately started just before the latest possible start time of 3.05pm.

The Osterley track, as always seems to be the way, played much better than it looked, and the Ts made a bright start.  Pete Richards and Ben Parer pulled and hooked with gusto, and by the 11^th over the Ts were looking good at 50-1.  Talk of 170-180 could be heard on the boundary.  However, the dismissal of Richards for 19 marked a turning point in the game, as Asad (who bowled straight through for his 6-69), the quickie Waqas and later the leg spinner Perera turned the screw.  50-1 became 55-4, as wickets fell and the run rate slowed.  Matty Bendelow (24) and Richie Brewin (23) did their best and put on 40 for the 5^th wicket, but by the time Garth Borain and Dan Hough found themselves at the crease the Ts were 111-7 with just 4 overs left.  Debutant Borain did his best to hoist the Ts into a position of respectability, and his 34no was a fine knock.  Two straight sixes and some sharp running in a partnership of 38 pushed the visitors up to the 150 mark.  With Hough perishing in the final over, former skipper Stuy Amos ended the Ts knock with a graceful late cut, as Twickenham ultimately finished on 154 off their allotted 38.

The tea was a rather strange old affair.  A roaring BBQ was being prepared outside, but, and this despite Benny Parer’s best efforts (“you can take the man out of Australia, but you can’t Australia out of the man!”), was apparently not intended for the cricketers.  The fare offered indoors was functional, if unspectacular.  However, this was more than made up for by the fact that Miss Asia 2010 was being beamed live on to the big screen in the pavilion; it’s a better bet than sitting through Swindon versus Millwall in the league 1 play off final, that’s for sure!

Osterley began their innings in typical Osterley fashion; they came out all guns blazing.  Former Ts’ player, Kaleem Abassi, pulled with gusto, and flicked away neatly in to the leg size.  He rapidly moved in to the 20s, but his fun was soon curtailed by Paul Cassidy – who, amidst all the carnage, bowled an encouraging spell – thanks to a catch that Matt Bendelow at cow corner made look impressively straightforward.  When Shah committed hari-kari and was run out by Hough with yards to spare, the Ts sensed that all was not lost, but Suraweera (37no) in particular looked very much in control and whilst he was at the crease Osterley always had the upper hand.  Rajesh, batting at five, looked much less composed, but he too swung and slashed effectively, ultimately helping Suraweera to see Osterley home with plenty to spare.

All in all, a day best forgotten.  The weather made everything seem like a chore, and as and when the game did get going the Ts struggled to play with any rhythm or control.  Draw a line.  Move on.  And hopefully put things right at home against Turnham Green next week.