You've heard of the Thriller in Manilla and the Rumble in the Jungle, right? You can now add the Titanic Tussle on Twickenham Green to that list! Going into the last over the Ts were one solitary run ahead of their opponents from down the A316, but a couple of delicate leg glances and some old skool edges were just enough to see Barnes home (see here for the card). Epic stuff.

Barnes out of the blocks quickest
Both Barnes and Twickenham are at the business end of Division Two. Barnes have lost one game thus far, the Ts were previously unbeaten. The contest between the sides on 23 May subsequently had all the ingredients of a close encounter.

It didn't, however, look like it was going to pan out that way early on. Excellent bowling by Joseph Bryan (2-9 off 3) and Teddy Smith (3-8) saw Barnes gain a clear advantage. Indeed, the Barnes bowling attack in general performed admirably.

The Ts nonetheless fought back. Stan Hough and Vince Hough put on 24 in the middle of the innings, the older of the twins (Stan) looking in decent nick for his 14. Harvir Ghere also hit the ball pretty cleanly, and by the time the final pair of Faris Iqbal and James Marsh came to the wicket the Ts had begun to turn things around. Iqbal proceeded to work the singles nicely whilst Marsh (17 off 13) thudded the ball impressively through the covers.

Down to the wire
Barnes needed 263 to win. Were they favourites? Possibly, although given that bowling is generally the Ts' stronger suit the hosts most certainly felt they were still in it.

Barnes again started well, Smith and Bryan running impressively. Then, however, the pendulum once again swung. Jaden Mate started the turnaround by bowling a couple of tight overs and grabbing a wicket. The irrepressible Massimo Constantopolous then came to the party, taking a hat-trick (one caught & bowled, two catches by James Marsh). James Penrose then added to that by grabbing another wicket. Barnes were wobbling.

The Ts further piled on the pressure. Harvir Ghere bowled two overs of thoughtful off spin, and then was involved in one of the two (James Marsh orchestrated the other) run outs.

By the time the game reached the final over Twickenham were one ahead. James Marsh, arguably the best bowler on show, steamed in from the Green Spice End. Charles Hickman kept his cool admirably, leg glancing two straight balls immaculately for four. Marsh then forced two edges out of Hickman, but rather than fly into Stan Hough's gloves they both raced agonisingly off to the third man boundary.

Barnes therefore ultimately got home, but the Ts pushed them all the way. Indeed, the topsy-turvy nature of the contest speaks volumes for all involved. Magnificent stuff.