Twickenham CC 3rd XI vs Kew CC 3rd XI
Once more unto Broom Road dear friends once more. The scene of many an historic third eleven game in the past few years welcomed a strong Twickenham 3rd XI to play Kew, who’s team consisted of a few unfamiliar face mixed with much experience.
The best of the day’s weather welcomed the captains as they goose stepped out to the middle for the toss – Kriess coming a close second as the home side were invited to bat first, with Salmon and Donelan bittern by the opening bug. Ross and Shepherd had first dibs with the new cherry.
It was as though the winter had never happened for all but Ross, who struggled with his line early on as extras raced into an early lead on a slow, unpredictable pitch. Salmon looked the most comfortable before Donelan, who perfected the ability to time the ball like a majestic flamingo to the long off fielder all afternoon, was bowled for 16 by first change Mandabar, shortly after the fifty partnership had been reached.
In form Parer’s fun was ended prematurely by a fine diver’s catch at point and wickets continued to fall with Salmon soon following with a fine 47, dismissed by an accurate darter from Weeks.
Pannell and Khan looked to rebuild with the assistance of some preseason fielding from Kew, who looked like a prize pair of boobies at times. Kew were made to regret their drops as Pannel made 35 and Khan struck a blistering 70. Rand and Kriess saw out the vast majority of the remaining overs, the puffin Rand looked shagged already and was out with 3 balls remaining for a quick fire 18. Kriess ended unbeaten on 23. Shepherd, the pick of the Kew bowling, ending with 3 wickets for a stingy 24 runs from his 11 overs. A score of 255 – 6 looked menacing.
Like gannets, a fine tea was consumed – no penguin biscuits and the tea tasting like shear water would be my only criticisms – and it was soon Twickenham’s tern in the field.
Bowman and Trippett took the new ball and were immediately in the wickets with Weeks, caught behind for 5 and Bishop, caught at gully for 2. Natarijan soon followed off the bowling of Trippett to a generous LBW which left the batsman cackling himself with rage. With Mahli and redhead “I’m a first teamer” Weeks looking to smew the ball to every boundary – alas, without too much success - “I’ll show you all how to bat” Weeks must have felt a bit of a noddy, soon caught by goldeneye Kriess for 8. Bowler’s friend, Shambi was ironically dismissed LBW for a ruddy duck from a skimmer that kept low and Mahli lobbed a simple catch to point from Parer’s bufflehead bowling.
With skipper, Abbot finding conditions easier than most of his team mates, Parer and Bendalow kept runs at bay while wickets continued to fall at the other end. Parer bowled McDermott without the scorers being troubled, while Manadear fell to the hands of the same bowler. Bendelow opened his account as Sheppard had a swing and a miss and when Abbot was eventually superbly caught by his oppo captain from Smith’s second ball, the innings came to a climax on 139, both Parer and Trippett taking 4 wickets in total.
The thirds are back in action at Teddington at the weekend and will be hoping to take 3 pre-season victory form into the game, their first league encounter of what promises to be an exciting season in Twickenham, the home of cricket (and some say rugby).