Week 8 of the 2025 MCCL season really did have something for everyone. There was a solid day in the office to report back on for the 4s, there was a battling 12 pointer for the ones and there was a knickergripper of a winning draw for the twos. The fives and the threes battled valiantly, but ultimately came off second best. As I say, cricket games of all shapes and sizes.....

Mehran Iqbal and Manish Malhotra to the fore for the fours
The 4s were the first to finish. They beat Chiswick 5s by four wickets (see here for the card).

The game lasted little more than 37 overs as the 4s bowling trojans skittled Chiswick for 72. Hinay Dassani (3-40) picked up wickets 641, 642 and 643 (at a career Twickenham average of 18.2) but it was fellow opening bowler Mehran Iqbal who really caught the eye. He ended with a mightily impressive 6-17. That's Mehran's 14th (!) five-wicket haul for the Ts, taking him to 185 wickets at an average of 11.07. Pretty damn impressive.

Be all that as it may, the Ts still needed to get their heads down and score those 73 runs. There were undoubtedly a few wobbles, but it was 18 year old Manish Malhotra who got the job done. He may have rode his luck a little at times, but he was there at the end on 49 to see the Ts through to where they needed to be. Decent effort.

The win takes the Ts up to joint second in the ladder (see here). Next week the Ts host top-of-the-table Ealing Trailfinders 3s. Could be an interesting one.

Ones ease eight points clear at the top
The ones, meanwhile, also registered a win, although they took home 12 points rather than 10. That's what happens when you win a timed game batting first (see here for the card).

The Ts lost the toss and had first hit. On a pitch that was always challenging to bat on, a plethora of Ts' players got in but then got out. Skipper Carlos Nunes led the way with 38 (52 balls), although Gurjit Sandhu (32 off 28) and Patrick Dixon (29 off 65 at the top) offered able support. Former Twickenham superstar Parminder Singh led the way with the ball, claiming 3-42.

The Indian Gym reply started well. Slowly but surely wickets nonetheless fell. Viren Nein (23) and Rohan Yadav (22) battled gamely, but Angus Parker (2-20 off 8) grabbed a couple in a lively opening spell and Akash Multani (3-25) and Don Manuwelge (3-17) wrapped things up later on. The Ts got home with something to spare.

The win sees Carlos Nunes's side move eight points clear (see here). Brondesbury are second with Finchley third. The latter are now over a game back. As the half-way point of the season approaches, the ones are looking good.

Thriller on the Green for the 2s
The twos are also definitely picking up. They were involved in a magnificent game of cricket on the Green, coming away with a winning draw in a thriller against North London.

This was one of those games where everything seemed to be happening. Hamish Johnston started things off with an impressive century (108 off 153) as the Ts posted 243 (see here for the card).

The ebullient Dev Tomlinson added a run-a-ball 64 whilst Andrew Riddle contributed an entertaining 25 (off 26).

In reply North London also had an opener who batted really well. George Burford hit an impressive 93 (off 124). He found some decent support from skipper Alex Dorman (43 off 44). Indeed, at one stage North London looked like they may get to their total with something to spare.

Twickenham skipper Blake van der Linde and speedster Callum Watson then took three wickets in four balls as the visitors began to wobble. Yet, number 9 Ebadullah Zariffi stood strong and hit hard. He ended 30no (off 34) as the North London tail decided that there was no way they were going to die not knowing.

It all boiled down to six being needed off the last two balls with just one wicket remaining. The fifth ball of the 50th and final over saw a big swing and miss....as did the sixth. Respect due to the bowler, van der Linde, for holding his nerve and getting his side five points. It could have been 12. But it could also have been none. The sign of a really good game.

Fives slip to defeat at SKLPC 4s
Elsewhere the fives came off second best against SKLPC 4s (see here for the card).

For a side struggling at the bottom of the table, SKLP batted admirably. Skipper Rajni Hirani (52no off 37) and Tejus Hirani (52 off 67) led the way as the hosts closed on 213-9. A tireless Harmeet Singh claimed 5-99 off a sapping 24 overs for the Ts, whilst Jon Bosier chipped in with 3-42. Shout out to debutant Ali Raza for a decent 0-44 off 9.

In reply, the Salford Stopper (Paul McLoughlin) did all he could to keep SKLP out. He ate up 47 balls before he was removed. Pete Burke scored a much more speedy 22 (off 21) and Zafar Ali (20 off 23) entered the fray with a similar frame of mind.

Still, the SKLPC bowlers gradually got on top of things and it was ultimately Ali Raza and Harmeet Singh who found themselves faced with the challenge of batting out the last ten overs for a draw. Raza (11 off 15) in particular gave it all he had, but when Dhruv Kerai trapped him leg before the die was cast. SKLPC claimed the 12 points.

Threes come off second best against Bessborough
The final Twickenham side in action were the 3rd XI. They, a little like the fives, found themselves enduring something of a challenging afternoon. They lost by three wickets against Bessborough (see here for the card).

The Ts batted first and struggled to make any real headway. Oli George (31 off 45) and the evergreen Connor Finney (31no off 44) were the stars of the show, although Praween Sirwardena added a potentially useful 15 at the end.

Bessborough started their chase well enough with two of their top order getting into the 30s. Praween Siriwardena (3-22) and Jonty Hunt (2-25) then grabbed a couple of wickets apiece as the Ts threatened to take the game right down to the wire.

Alas, it was not meant to be. Aditya Patil kept a calm head and saw Bessborough through to their target and indeed to the ten points.