TCC II v CYPOS II. Sunday 11 May 2008

A fine day greeted the eager-beaver Ts twos as they pulled back their curtains on the morning of this always good-natured encounter. The Green's square looked immaculate. Tended lovingly by groundsman, tea-lady and middle-order batsman A G Bendelow. A day for batting were it ever the case.

Naturally, therefore, the Ts call-up skipper D Henderson lost the toss, agreed a timed game, but with an 8-over per bowler restriction, and the evergreen C Chidwick loosened up for his first over of the season from the Pavilion end.

Despite a depleted number, with one of the Ts new boys failing to show, Chidders found his line and length immediately, proving a total absence of practice and repeated TV appearances alongside John Barrowman counts for little. Joining in the opening exchanges was the returning Shah, who started brightly and with good line from his employers' end, and was unfortunate not to break through immediately with a full, straightening delivery that caught pads fairly close to middle stump. The man from Del Monte, he say no.

Nevertheless, Shah did sneak an early wicket, beating the opener Miller for pace and forcing a play-on. Chidders couldn't quite get the luck on his side and so, looking like Neville Southall after a brisk walk, Hendo decided to twirl down some early spin.

Shah grabbed another pole, trapping the number three LBW as he tried to pull a skidding straight'un, and, ten overs in, runs were now looking hard work.

Bobby Freeman's chinamen were introduced to replace Shah, the youngster taking an over to settle in, but then finding helpful bounce and a bit of rip on the always spin-helpful Green. A few overs of acceleration from the remaining opener Emilie was cut short when the two wrist-spinners combined to send him on his way. Hendo forcing a slice off the outside edge, Bobby confidently pasting his name on the high one to pouch well at cover.

New-boy Sam Moss brought more spin to the party, and soon nabbed himself a scalp, winkling the dangerous-looking number 4 Hogarth with a smart diving caught and bowled and beating the outside edge almost at will. Another new lad, Damien Lane was then thrown the ball and completed a luckless, but totally dominating four-over burst of dobble for the concession of a thrifty 5 runs.

A quick cameo from S Paul saw the last wicket of the innings fall as a straight one beat the now-swinging number seven, and then Chidwick and Shah returned to see out the last few overs before CYPOS's skipper elected to declare 40 overs in with the score a slightly below-par, but still competitive 191.

A Bendelow once more provided a feast of multiply filled sandwiches, cakes, tarts and ancillary nibbles which was met with unanimous glee from either side, but not content to have prepared the wicket, made the tea and entertained the troops with his 70s porn industry-standard moustache, Tony was good enough to stand in with blade for our absent man. And the reward of a number 5 spot was negotiated.

With the only recognised opening bat in the side having kept in the not-inconsiderable warmth for two and a half hours, lots were drawn and Shibu and A Phillips were thrust up the order to face the CYPOS opening onslaught.

Shibu started confidently and, despite his obvious dismay at having to face a spinner second over, stroked a nice four down the ground early on.

Andy's sole contribution to the score was another four, similarly well-hit, but alas, he retreated to the back foot at the end of over number two, and was undone by the wily tweak of Olderfield, playing inside the line.

Despite his toils with the gloves, R Brewin was thrust into the fray at 3 and settled into the openers' role. Shibu, getting onto an overpitched delivery, lofted the ball down the ground, seemingly wide of the fielder, but a telescoping arm darted out and plucked Shibu's drive with almost a nonchalance. Back to the pavilion for 9.

Nitesh, on the back of a big score for his Saturday team the day before, looked physically exhausted as he trekked out, but lasted 20 minutes before falling, caught behind off his gloves for a brisk 16 to the niggling leg-spin of Monks.

Bendelow then, still mopping his bleeding nose from the extreme loftiness that number 5 afforded him, nudged, prodded and occasionally yahoo'd for half an hour, seeing in this time Brewin depart trying a back-foot shot to one that kept low for a nuggety 15 off a 55-minute display of solidity.

Bendelow was then joined by Henderson adding 15 more runs before falling to a good top-of-off-peg round-the-wicket delivery from the number four bowler GaJ.

Henderson and Freeman set about a rebuilding task. Well into the last 20, and the score only sat at 63, the rate was now unattainable, so the CYPOS skipper rotated the bowling to try to get the wickets he'd need for the win.

Accurate quick bowling from the number 5 seamer pegged down the scoring for six overs, but after this was survived, junior leg-spinner Jude and senior grenadier Hogaath were introduced to tempt big shots. Henderson and Freeman accepted the challenge and runs started to come quickly. When Hendo departed stumped for 28, Damien Lane strode to the centre and with confidence now brimming, Bobby elected to go on the full-blooded counter.

In the ten minutes Damien was at the crease (11, bowled attempting more strokeplay), the score advanced from 98 to 129, Freeman going from 17 to 33. With Shah (not out 0) as support, Freeman took this up to a top-scoring 37 before finally falling, bowled, to the returning legger Monks.

Chidwick valiantly strode out with two balls remaining, touched one to give Shah an opportunity on the last delivery, but no contact could be made.

The final analysis saw the game drawn, creditably by a bowler-heavy Ts outfit, and in good spirits with the CYPOS boys going for the jugular and the Ts willing to take anything on offer. Twickenham closed on 134 for 8, chasing 191 for 5.

The CYPOS lads stayed for a few light ales and unpaid barman Shibu Paul found himself busy as toasts to player of the day Robert Freeman were guzzled.