Mixed results to end a tough week
A win, a winning draw, a losing draw and a defeat were the order of the day for an under strength Twickenham in Week 7. Given that selection appeared to go in to meltdown at periods in the run up to Saturday not a bad return at all.

Ones come off second best in a thriller
The first XI welcomed Ealing to the Green. As everyone knows, Ealing are always a tough nut to crack. That's even more the case when you're missing your two premier spinners and you're a couple short elsewhere.

But every credit to Carlos Nunes and his troops for forcing the Corfton Roaders to battle to the bitter end (see here for the card). Nunes himself led from the front, scoring a well-made 52. Don Manuwelge also stood up to be counted, also scoring 52 although off 25 fewer balls than his skipper.

196 was fewer than the Ts were hoping for, but plenty of cricket games have been won with that figure on the board. When Ealing got off to an absolute flyer - scoring initially at 10 an over - it looked like Saturday wasn't going to be one of them. But, slowly but surely, wickets began falling. Manuwelge (3-40) and Jacob Bhula (3-58) led the charge, and with 30 needed to win and just three wickets left standing it looked like Twickenham were on the brink of securing a famous victory.

Ashley Sivarajah, batting at ten, nonetheless kept his cool and whilst he was there Ealing were always more than in with a chance. Sivarajah's 30 (off 30 balls) was pivotal in seeing Ealing home with a couple of wickets to spare. Throw in the 7-47 he took earlier in the day and I think it's fair to say that he's had worst days in the office.

Twos cling on
The twos have been struggling a little of late so a visit to top of the table North Middlesex presented a real challenge. The hosts took first hit and made hay whilst the sun shone, posting 297-7 before declaring with 47 overs gone. Dom Thamby was the star turn with the ball taking four wickets.

That left the Ts with 53 overs to chase the total down. 26 (from 28 balls) from Sanjit Sandhu at the top of the order set a positive tone, but as the overs went by it became clear that 298 was simply too far away for the Ts to realistically hope to chase down.

Skipper Eugene Berger reined in his normal attacking game to score 44 off 87 balls, but it was Nikhil Nomula who really battened down the hatches, scoring 36 in a mammoth 115 balls. The old boys in the club have nothing but respect for batting like that, Nikhil!

The losing draw keeps the Ts off the bottom (see here). Next week's game against third bottom Highgate now takes on an even greater significance that it already had. Go to it, fellas.

Thirds cruise to 12 points at Southgate
The third XI have been improving of late, and it was only a matter of time before someone 'got it'. That someone turned out to be Southgate who were defeated by 133 runs at the Walker Ground.

Colin Blunden led from the front, bombasting a couple of big straight sixes on his way to 55 whilst skipper Steve Watts chipped in with an important 66 in the middle of the innings. Nihal Tomar also batted nicely for a well-deserved undefeated 55.

Southgate never looked like chasing down the 240 they needed to win. Sam Cliffe chipped in with a couple of wickets, but it was the impressive JP Bowman who caught the eye taking three wickets at the end to clean up the tail. An impressive performance all round.

4s on the front foot.
The 4s enjoyed an entertaining game at top-of-the-table Highgate (see here for the table). Uzzi Khan has even produced a match report; excellent work Uzzi!

The Ts set their hosts a total of 219 to win, Pete Burke and Andy Donelan being the stars of the batting show. Indeed, rumours are even rife that not only did Giraffe (the wounded) score a half-century, but he went to that particular landmark with a straight six. Excellent work!

If results have gone the 4s way then they could be nicely in mid-table by the time they next take to the field. Good work, fellas. The 5s weren't able to raise a side but they'll no doubt come back again stronger next week.

There's action on the Green today as the Ladies XI welcome Finchley. The Sunday XI are also in action. They are on their travels and take on Byfleet in what's likely to be an entertaining encounter. Go well, folks.