The 4s kick-started their campaign with an away fixture at Spencer CC. A bit of a mission, but we managed to get their just on time. Skipper Hinay Dassani won the toss and elected to bat first as there was runs to be scored on the track and with the batting quality in the side this seemed to be a sensible approach.
The Mexican veteran Gilbert Sanchez and the Dubai Sharjah Tiger Shahbaz Khan, both making their first appearance of the season, opened the batting very steadily and cautiously. Sanchez was the first to depart for a total of 5 runs. He fell to an awkward delivery which managed to find its way to first slip. However, there were some flashes of good shots from Gilbert but some fantastic stops from the fielders prevented him from pushing his score up.
In came fellow Lahori Karahi team mate Uzzy Khan to partner Shahbaz. Once more it was a very steady partnership as the bowlers Hussein, Walton, Fahid and Ramsey all bowled very consistently. It got to 20 overs and at the drinks break the Ts were 58-1, with the majority of the runs coming predominantly from singles and doubles. A slow start for the Ts with Uzzy being dropped 3 times, but would the drinks break pump up the engine for Shahbaz and Uzzy? It certainly seemed to bolster their energy levels because in a short space of time Twickenham went from being 58-1 to 72-1.
Well, 2 overs later and the second wicket fell, Shahbaz Khan departing. He was bowled by a very decent delivery from Ahmed which Shahbaz tried to slice away. He paid the price but nevertheless it was a solid and sensible innings of 36 which had definitely set the platform for things to come. A good start to the season for the Sharjah Tiger!
New boy Nihal Tomar stepped up to the crease looking to regain some of his form. With still plenty of time and work left to do, Uzzy started to add more runs to the tally whilst Tomar was still settling himself in to the game. Both Uzzy and Nihal continued to bat well, running quickly between the wickets (something which could not be said previously because Shahbaz Khan was being too lazy!).
Uzzy then started to get the big shots out of his locker and started to become more ruthless on Spencer’s bowling attack. This led him to reach his half centaury. This was definitely a confidence booster for Uzzy, and he proved this by not hesitating to punch and slap more deliveries to the boundary. Eventually his innings ended with a hit and miss delivery which Uzzy surprisingly simply missed. He was bowled by Walton who was probably the pick of the bowlers for Spencer. Despite being dropped 3 times it was a very sensible and silky 50 from Uzzy. He had obviously made them pay the price for the dropped catches and he departed on 68.
This brought Sanjay ‘I want to bat number 5’ Rawal to the crease! Nihal, who was on 36, got to his half century rapidly which was very surprising and not the usual Nihal I have known! But with some bad deliveries Nihal took every opportunity in his stride and punished the bowlers. Tomar continued to increase the runs quickly with some orthodox shots. Sanjay also decided to join the party with some big hitting shots. Tomar was the next to go, being bowled by Ramsey for a well crafted and deserved 66. Nihal kept his nerve and batting very sensibly right throughout his innings. Not bad for a Rajasthani Indian!
Ben Aldworth joined the crease with 2.3 overs
remaining. Ben instantly got off the mark with a leg
side shot towards fine leg. There was a huge roar of
approval from the boundary line and from whole of
Tea was very delicious with a mixture of everything. Hendo Tea Meter would definitely have a high rating as he ate the vast majority of it!
The second innings commenced with the Mumbai Prince Taufeeq Sheikh, and Joseph ‘JLS’ Gordon (footnote – Mark Johnson is responsible for the creation of this particular nickname!). Both started off in positive fashion and did not allow any of the top order batsmen to get into the game. Wickets just kept persistently tumbling with Taufeeq Sheikh claiming the first four with some stunning bowling. It was so stunning that even Cheryl Cole would gladly ask Taufeeq to replace Ashley!
Two of the wickets were clean bowled and
there was nothing the batsman could do to defend it. One was a
catch from the one and only Gilbert Sanchez, rolling back the
years to show the likes of Sanjay Rawal how to take catches!
Another was a stumping as the batsman was in
The Mumbai Prince ended his spell with the classy figures of 8 overs 2 Maidens and 4 wickets. Taufeeq was unlucky not to get his credentials of a 5fer haul but still a fantastic performance.
As for Joseph Gordon, the U17 talent worked very hard and bowled some typically monstrous West Indian Style Deliveries, with even a beamer which could’ve sent the batsman to off to see a plastic surgeon if it had hit his face. He supported Sheikh maturely. JLS continued to illustrate his talent with some rapid swing bowling, but got no luck in terms of claiming a wicket. His spell ended on 7 overs 1 maiden 27 runs and 0 wickets. Well bowled Joseph! Not bad for a JLS pop star.
With batsman F.Abbas and T. Billingham seeing off Taufeeq and Joseph, they now had the task of facing David Henderson. Hendo, who requested bat 11 and bowl instead because of a suspected broken rib, bowled quite well despite feeling rusty with lack of practice this winter. Quite how a broken rib prevents him from batting but allows him to bowl was a bit beyond me, I might add! Only he knows the answer to that. His figures were a tidy 4 overs 10 runs 0 wickets.
At the opposite end the inspirational skipper Hinay Dassani entered the fray. Dassani started off well by getting some movement off the track, which the batsmen were struggling to deal with. It had been quite a while since the Ts had taken a wicket, and it finally came from the skipper. The batsman hit the ball in the air and it was well caught by Nihal Tomar who continued to have a fantastic game with his fielding display.
The Partnership finally ended and it was F. Abbas to depart for a decent 34. Both batsmen batted slowly and never really got going, but defiantly frustrated the Ts as the rain started to spit down.
Next batsman was Spencer’s skipper. He stood in there for a while, but was then bowled by the Ts skipper for 8. Hendo was replaced by Chetan Ubale. Chetan bowled very well without getting any wickets. Skipper Dassani finished his spell with 8 overs 36 runs and 2 wickets.
The skipper decided to bring on Ben ‘Crouchy’ Aldworth. Some may question what drugs the skipper had been taking. Despite a few pea rollers at the start, Crouchy started to get some turn and bowled in the right areas. The world finally entered a state of shock when the batsman played Crouchy’s delivery onto the stumps. I wonder what John’s reaction would have been if he had been there to witness this. “This is horrendous, someone call an ambulance I am about to faint.”(cockney accent). Crouchy had more surprises in the hat as the batsman came down the track, missed the ball and Uzzy instantly stumped him. It was well deserved 2fer for Crouchy. Credit to Spencer’s left handed batsman T. Billingham for his 50 not out.
The game was a positive start for the 4th team despite the line up being predominantly a 5th team. The Ts were always superior right throughout the match with constant domination. Some slight frustration and pressure came into the game for the Ts when there was a long partnership in the middle of the innings and the slight drizzle which luckily enough did not extend into heavy rain.
Generally it was a great team effort and a well deserved win with some very good bowling, fielding and batting performances.
Skippers Top 5 players
- Taufeeq Sheikh
- Nihal Tomar
- Usama Khan
- Shahbaz Khan
- Joseph Gordon
TFC Award- No one really because everyone played an essential role. Oh, Gilbert by the way thanks for coming! (Only messing buddy!)
Jonty moment- a few good diving stops by Joseph
Monty moment- this goes to Sanjay Rawal for a misfield and a drop catch.