It was party time on Twickenham Green on Saturday 30 August as the ones defeated Indian Gym and secured promotion back to the Premier League of the MCCL. Indeed, results elsewhere meant that the Ts are guaranteed to go up as champions (see here for the table). Congratulations to Carlos Nunes and all who've helped the ones get to this point. Magnificent stuff.

Dixon keeps his cool
Rain did its best to cause chaos across Middlesex in Week 17 but that couldn't prevent the ones from getting the promotion job done.

Indian Gym had first hit and they ended up closing on 153 (see here for the card). Mohibullah Oryakhel was at the centre of that, blasting 79 off 59 before Gus McKenzie span him out. It was the other Angus, Angus Parker, who led the way in terms of bowling figures, he ended with an impressive 4-21 off 9.

With rain looming large the Ts knew it'd make sense to stay ahead of the rate. And, that they did. Pat Dixon, a man whose Yorkshire heritage meant that he'd be more used to inclement weather than most, led the way with a title-winning 64no (off 70 balls). That meant that when the umpires took the sides in the Ts were well ahead on the DLS. Cue the opening of the champagne bottles.....

Cowley century sets the fours on their way
The fours also had an excellent day, demolishing Chiswick 5s by a collossal 267 runs (see here for the card). That means that they go into Week 18's winner-takes-all decider with Ealing Trailfinders 3s knowing that if the game's rained off it will at least be Twickenham that go up (see here for the table).

In terms of Week 17, Steve Cowley (121) blasted a brutal century to set the Ts on their way with Shah Bozdar (53no) helping things move along nicely. Hinay Dassani's side therefore closed on an impressive 303.

Chiswick 5s have had a tough old season and they'll be going down to Division 6. Credit to them for fulfilling the fixture and not chucking in the towel. Respect due.

They could nonetheless do little in the face of a bowling barrage from Hinay Dassani (3-16) and particularly Mehran Iqbal (6-14). That's 40 wickets this season for Iqbal. Impressive work indeed.

Ganesh's batting heroics not quite enough for the twos
The twos were hoping that they'd secure promotion back to the Prem in Week 17. It didn't quite pan out that way (see here for the card) as they lost at North London. But, they live to fight another day; beat Hornsey IIs next week and they'll be promoted alongside Stanmore IIs (see here for the table).

In terms of this week, Twickenham's second string put 174 on the board. They'd hoped for more, but had Anush Ganesh and Margin Kantilal not put on 63 for the final wicket it could most certainly have been worse. The evergreen Matthew Rosson took 4-22 for North London.

In reply, Angus Hart's 66 saw North London home as the Ts struggled to make too many inroads. North London subsequently got to their target with five wickets in hand.

Threes frustrated by the weather
The threes only had an outside chance of lurching into one of the promotion slots. The rain ultimately put the kibosh even on that.

Robbie Bosier's side will subsequently be left asking what might have been. They were well ahead on the run rate and just a tantalising 9 balls short of the match being declared a game (see here for the card). Both Bessborough IIIs and Twickenham IIIs settled for three points each.

Mark Smith, the warhorse from the Wirral, was the star turn with the ball (4-37), although Dom Thamby also grabbed a couple of poles. Rohith Dona (33no off 40) was in full flow when the deluge finally arrived.

On to next year....

So near yet so far for the fives
The fives were also frustrated as they came off second best against SKLP (see here). Jon Bosier's troops fell 19 runs short.

SKLP batted first and set the fifth dimension 132 to win. The skipper himself (4-19) bowled impressively as did Thomas Hopkins (3-37). The Ts subsequently had a similar total to chase down in Week 17 as they'd (successfully) done in Week 16.

Jimmy Salgotra (28) and Nitin Parab (36) saw to it that the Ts started off well, but as the drizzle arrived so wickets started falling. Adam Tebb gave things a decent go lower down, but ultimately the Ts closed short of their target.

They do live to fight into Week 18, but they now have to hope SKLP lose (heavily) and they beat Brentham IVs. Not unheard of if the cricketing gods look kindly on Bosier's side....