The 2026 pre-season rolled into Week 2 with Twickenham locking horns with three sides from Barnes. The ones had a decent day, winning a reasonably close one by three wickets. The twos came out on the wrong side of low scoring affair on the Green, whilst Barnes got home by five wickets at Broom Road.

Ones make it two wins from two
The Ts fielded three sides on 25 April although quite how many of the players who donned the whites will be in the sides they played in come Week 1 of the MCCL season remains to be seen. Pre-season being what it is, players from all five Twickenham sides were (well-) represented, and a few will have enjoyed playing up just a little higher than they might ordinarily have been used to. All good.

The ones made it two wins from two with a three wicket win at Lonsdale Road (see here for the card). The win, of course, was in the great scheme of things largely irrelevant; the fact that some good runs were scored and some good overs bowled was the main thing.

'Keeper Ben Burrows led the way for Barnes with the bat. He contributed a quickfire 58 from just 31 balls to see the hosts end on 238 off their 45. The impressive Syed Mehdi (3-44 off 9) took the eye with the ball, the mercurial manager of the U9s, Ethan Wright, also chipped in (2-25).

In reply, Pat Dixon was the star turn. His 92 (107 balls) set the base, before Dru Shori (47 off 59) and Syed Mehdi (30 off 17) saw things home. Dan Scott (2-24 off 9) did what he could for Barnes.

Twos come off second best
Elsewhere, it was the two Barnes sides that came out on top.

Twickenham's second string could only muster 112 on the Green, Nishan Singh boshing his way merrily to 35 (see here for the card). Three fours and three sixes were central to that. Ryan Oakes also added 23 (off 40 balls). Harry Allhusen (3-16) stood out for Barnes.

Barnes II got where they needed to go and indeed always looked like they were going to...but the Ts did nonetheless take wickets all the way along. Skipper Robbie Bosier started the season off impressively; he took a wicket with the very first ball of the innings, bowling Alex Carrie. The Ts were in with a chance.

Ollie McGrath (39 off 26) nonetheless steadied the Barnes ship, and that even though that Bosier (3-41) and Praween Siriwardena (2-33) chipped away. Barnes nonetheless got home with four wickets to spare.

Dassani did what Dassani does
The threes were also involved in a suitably low-scoring affair. Twickenham put 106 on the board Barnes chased it down for the loss of five wickets.

Jarryd Knot used all his guile to guide the Twickenham innings forward, and his 40no was well-deserved. Shah Bozdar was the only other batter to make double figures (11).

In reply, the skipper, Hinay Dassani did what he does. 4-18 and his season is well-and truly up and running. Ejiaz Mahmood also picked up a wicket but it ultimately wasn't enough to stop Barnes easing to their victory target.

Decent stuff all round, on to the final week of pre-season (2 May).

Photo: @jedleicester