You know it’s a dull rainy Saturday when one of the more interesting conversations on the TCC Watsapp group concerns the contents of Kev Cavilla’s sock draw. Quite a collection there, Kev, respect due.

Twos buck the trend
Thankfully, one of the five TCC sides did manage to dodge the weather and get a game in, limiting sock-draw-conversations along the way. The 2nds were the side in question as 90 overs were (somewhat miraculously) bowled at the Walker Ground in Southgate.

The twos knew that snaffling points was going to make a significant difference to their position in the league ladder. A winning draw would see them move up two places to fourth whilst a win would see them up to third or (if they batted first) even second. So, there was certainly plenty to play for.

The idea of moving in to the promotion places was scuppered more or less immediately when Southgate had first hit. And, the hosts did pretty well, posting 174 off their 49 overs.

Thamby makes Southgate suffer. Again
In reply, the Ts got off to an inauspicious start, losing Nikhil Nomula with only 6 on the board. They then rallied as Mo Ahmad (31 off 51) and Ajmal Allahdad (23 off 41) put on 47 for the second wicket. Their departures rocked the boat a little but at 81-3 the Ts still very much fancied their chances of running Southgate’s score close.

Then, however, a wobble set in; Eugene Berger (26) and Harry Grinstead (22) did their best to keep the momentum going, but a flurry of wickets around them saw the Ts slip to 140-9.

The win had slipped out of the visitors’ grasp, but the winning draw was still very much on. Sam Cliffe and Dom Thamby needed to get the Ts to 146 and then to see out the remaining seven overs. They managed the first of those two aims, and with due stubbornness Cliffe (4no in 22 balls) and Thamby (2no in 15 balls) – a man who has a history of causing Southgate last-wicket problems – got to the end of the 41st over intact. Winning draw duly claimed.

Those five points see the Ts move up to fourth, seven points behind Indian Gym (see here). Good work, fellas.