Twickenham edge out Kew in close encounter on The Green

Twickenham                158 a/o  (W. Paull 57, C. Nunes 46, H. Viljoen 20, T. Dodd 3-26)

British Airways                        155-8     (Dunusinghe 65, M. Dunn 29, J. Scriven 3-29, W. Paull 2-24)

The final warm-up game of 2008 saw Twickenham pip near neighbours Kew by three runs in a tight affair on Twickenham Green.  Warwick Paull and Carlos Nunes were the mainstays of Twickenham’s below par 158.  Tight bowling and sharp fielding nonetheless saw the Ts squeeze home to a second consecutive pre-season victory. 

Traditionally, Twickenham Green is a batsman’s paradise.  The track is hard and fast and the outfield exceptionally quick.  Not the case on Saturday 3^rd May.  Groundsman Tony Bendelow had done very well to get any sort of surface prepared and it is to his credit that any cricket was played at all.  The council, to be fair to them too, had also tried (on three separate occasions) to cut the outfield, but the midweek deluges thwarted them at every turn.  Ideal cricket playing conditions they definitely weren’t.

Both captains were nonetheless keen to play and Twickenham took first knock in a 45 over game.  In previous warm up games against Acton and Old Rutlishians the Ts enjoyed bombastic starts.  Saturday was, unsurprisingly, rather different.  J-P Cronje survived a big leg before appeal only to be bowled next ball by van Royen without scoring.  It was not long before fellow opener Grant Hughes joined him back in the hutch, also bowled by a big inducker from Dunn for 7.  The Ts were reeling a little on 18-2.

The reliable pairing of Carlos Nunes and Warwick Paull brought some order to proceedings.  Nunes, as is his way, was brutal on anything short, smashing van Royen twice into First Cross Road within the space of four balls.  Paull, meanwhile, took his time, played gun barrel straight and began his usual process of run accumulation.  The half century came up in the 12^th over and the Ts looked set fair for (another) big total.

Just as the other Ts players and supporters were sitting back to enjoy the fun, Kew struck back with a vengeance.  O’ Toole bowled Nunes for 46, before persuading Justin Scriven to chase a wide one second ball.  By the time Dan Hough nicked a corker behind first ball, the whole nature of the game had changed.  82-2 had become 82-5. 

Paull and Dimi Nicolaides settled the ship somewhat, but when two more wickets fell with the score on 126 Twickenham again had their backs firmly against the wall.  Fifth team skipper Holger Kriess – a late replacement for the injured Michiel Vosloo – tried valiantly to halt the slide, but he wasn’t helped when Warwick Paull departed (57 in 103 balls) with the score on 131.  The Ts tale did nonetheless wag usefully; Kriess stuck around well while fellow debutant Herkie Viljoen played some good-looking shots to move the total into the 140s.  Dunn finally returned to remove the obstinate Ts number nine, and it wasn’t long before Viljoen too was bowled – the Ts ending up on a less than satisfactory 158.

 The tea was once again one of the highlights of the day.  Quantity very good, quality even better.  Straight A on the tea-o-meter. 

The Ts realised that a sharp start was going to be vital in giving them a chance to win the game.  If Kew, and star batsman Bruce Friedrichs, got away to a flier then defending 158 – even on a slow deck with a slow outfield – was going to be tricky.  Both Herkie Viljoen and Justin Scriven bowled with plenty of zip and the bright start that Carlos Nunes demanded soon began to take shape.  Scriven removed Abbott without scoring and dangerman Friedrichs was bowled playing across the line to Viljoen.  21-2 became 23-3 when Rowley edged behind a real snorter to Carlos Nunes behind the sticks.  The Ts were in the boxseat.

 

Kew, to their credit, fought back.  Dunusinghe showed plenty of positive intent, hitting with gusto over the infield whilst number five Dunn took his time to size up the Ts attack.  As the score passed 50 the Kew batters gained in confidence, Dunn wheeling out the drive to good effect and Dunusinghe swotting merrily away outside off stump.  A breakthrough was needed and, sure enough, the ever reliable Warwick Paull stepped up to the plate, trapping Dunn leg before for 29.  Lawther (bowled Paull for 1) and Dodd (bowled Scriven for 12) didn’t hang about too long, but it was the wicket of Dunusinghe – run out thanks to a missile-like throw by Viljoen at short third man – for 65 that really swung the game in Twickenham’s favour. 

The Ts’ fielding remained sharp and slowly Kew fell behind the rate.  Knowles and Tindall did their best before Tindall became another run out victim.  O’Toole also tried to up the tempo, but to no avail.  With 15 needed off the last over, the Ts knew that if they kept their heads then they would get home safely.  Herkie Viljoen proved up to the task and Kew eventually had to admit defeat, falling three runs short. 

Although the Ts didn’t bat particularly well, it was encouraging to see them recover well in the field.  The bowling and fielding was generally sharp and Twickenham can go into next week’s derby encounter with Richmond in confident mood.