Twickenham - 189ao (Munting 34, Paxton 26, Brewin 23no)
British Airways – 190-9 (M.Bendelow 3-18, Vosloo 2-45)
The Sunday League XI went down to a strong British Airways side in a thrilling encounter on a sweltering day on Twickenham Green. After posting a modest total, with plenty of batsmen getting starts and not going on, the bowling was tight and pushed British Airways all the way as they got the total with 10 balls to spare.
After winning a crucial toss on a day when temperatures soared, Matt Bendelow took little time in choosing to take first use on a typically batting friendly wicket on the Green, things didn’t start well though as they lost the in form Dayal, fresh from his 171 the day before, in the first over. As the innings progressed T’s batsman came and went. Paxton, Vosloo, Donelan, Munting and O’Brien all looked in good touch but couldn’t kick on to get a big score the side needed. With the total looking far from defendable Brewin came in at 10 to hit a dashing 23no to help salvage a total of 189 to give the home side a glimmer of hope going into the second innings. The plethora of good quality spin bowling from BA gave good encouragement to the T’s though, as they knew that with Shahid in the side, anything was possible.
If Twickenham were to have a chance of pulling off an upset than a good start would be critical, unfortunately it didn’t quite happen for the T’s opening bowlers as BA smashed their way to 50 off the first 5 overs. At this point Bendelow turned to the ‘King of Spin’ Aga Shahid, and he duly provided, removing the dangerous looking Wasim with his second delivery, Mike O’Brien taking a steepler at long on. Seeing the ball turn sideways from one end was enough encouragement for the skipper to introduce himself into the attack and for the next 15 overs these two heaped pressure on the BA batsman, with good support supplied by the fielders with Bendelow (Snr) and Paxton both taking good catches off the captain’s bowling. The score was brought back to 90-4 off 20 and that point could have gone either way. Shahid was replaced by Munting who bowled an unlucky spell of 1-42 from his 9, however it was during these overs that the T’s got the crucial wicket of Shamil who was run out for 51. At this point the game turned as Bendelow finished his spell of 3-18 from 9 and after an experiment with Dayal, Vosloo was re-introduced in the search for wickets. He managed to pick up 2 to leave BA needing 10 to win off the final 4 overs with 2 wickets in hand. With Vosloo, Munting, Shahid and Bendelow (Jr) all bowled out the ball was thrown to Mike O’Brien, who bowled with great intelligence, mixing up his pace and length to tremendous effect. He picked up a wicket and only conceded 5 runs in his 2 over spell. The British Airways captain however had other ideas, and played a sensible knock of 21 not out to guide his side home in the following over.
