Twickenham’s annual Cricket Week fixture against the 1987 League once again offered an excellent day’s fare. Going in to the last over both sides had the chance of winning, a tie was in the game and so was the draw. Ultimately Sam Cliffe and Ozzie Qavi held their nerve, batting out to give the Ts the better of the draw (see here for the card). Excellent stuff.

Sublime Salter to the fore
The day started with the Ts winning the toss and having a bowl. With 90 minutes before the curry lunch in the Green Spice, the 1987 League decided that they wanted plenty of runs on the board before the dining commenced.

Ian Salter duly obliged, hitting 17 fours and three sixes on his way to a typically belligerent 116. Vish Jagunath helped him on his way with 35 before Matt Bendelow chipped in with 64.

For the Ts Ozzie Qavi was very much the star of the bowling show; his 4-32 was well deserved. Indeed, Qavi was the only Twickenham bowler to take a wicket as the hosts toiled in the field. A formal disciplinary hearing is going to be held next week to discuss how to deal with skipper Steve Watts following his decision to give Connor Finney the new ball. There’s left-field and then there’s downright insane…

So near yet so far
The 1987 League subsequently decked on 251. That left the Ts 47 overs to chase their target down.

Neither Watts nor Martin Fairn could make much of dent in the total, leaving Chris Wylde (25 off 35) and Connor Finney to try and get the innings moving. Finney in particular managed to click nicely, helping himself to 62 off 53 balls.

Kev Cavilla (32) and Gurjit Sandhu (37) also made nice contributions, but with wickets falling and overs passing by the Ts were beginning to struggle. Sam Cliffe, as he has done a number of times this season already, looked to grasp the nettle and his run a ball 36no did much to get the Ts up to the line.

Going in to the last over the Ts needed 10 to win. However, the last pair of Cliffe and number 11 Qavi were at the crease. Stick or twist? In the end, the Ts stuck, closing 8 short.

As ever, this was an excellent day’s cricket. A close game played very much in the right spirit. Good stuff one and all.