You play sport to win. But, when everyone involved in this encounter between Twickenham U10s and Hampton Hill U10s stands back and looks at this game, then the result really doesn't matter much at all.

Both sides could have won. Both sides played some cracking cricket. As it happens, the cards ultimately fell Twickenham's way (see here for the scorecard), but lots of credit goes to the Hampton Hill side for contributing to what was ultimately a real thriller of a finish.

Hampton Hill set the target
Hampton Hill had first hit and they got off to a bit of a flier. Skipper Enie Heasman hit 15 off 10 balls and Aabid Mukadam contributed 9 off 12.

The ebullient Abil Mahmood ran well and hit hard. His 15 (off 11 balls) saw HH move into the middle of the innings with a score north of 300 (teams start on 200 in the U10s) on the cards.

Then, however, the Ts started to ease their way into the game. Skipper Jaden Mate returned a miserly 2-6, whilst Massimo Constantopoulos was good value for his 2-12. Austin Tilzey (0-9 off 2) bowled tightly, as did James Penrose (0-12) and Max Fernandes (0-12). The Ts were keeping Hampton Hill in check.

Rupert Calarco and big-hitting Karthik Dodla tried to move things along, but the ever cool, calm and collected Harvir Ghere (1-3 off 2) and the bundle of energy that is Vince Hough (1-4 off 2) throttled the scoring rate. Stan Hough also caught the eye by putting his massive new pair of wicket keeping gloves to good use.

Throw in a run out that was ruled out as it'd deflected off a helmet sitting behind the stumps (that'll be five penalty runs to the Hill, too, of course), plus a case of the ball hitting the stumps but the bails not falling off and it was an innings that had more or less everything.

Drama to the end
It looked like it would be hard for Twickenham's knock to have more happening, but by the time the final pair went in there were a fair few spectators who could barely bring themselves to watch.

The Ts began their chase slowly. Sammy Allen and Austin Tilzey still ran nicely when they had the chance, but, crucially, neither was out. Mass Constantopoulos and Max Fernandes followed them in and had to deal with some hostile (in a completely positive way) bowling; they battled gamely and kept to it. Respect due to Ernie Heasman there, his 3-13 were well earned.

Even then, by the time Jaden Mate and James Penrose went out to bat the Ts were in need of some runs. Things weren't desperate, but around 60 was needed off the final 12 overs.

Mate made it clear what he was thinking. He hit the first ball for six. James Penrose joined him in boshing the ball through mid wicket and running positively. The two batters shifted the score along nicely.

The same could be said for both Harvir Ghere and Faris Iqbal. Iqbal wheeled out an immaculate pull shot that zipped for four, Ghere drove true and straight. Ghere, like Mate, notched up 17, Iqbal 12.

The final pair of Vince and Stan Hough nonetheless still had more to do. Heasman bowled his third over of the innings, but it was deubrant Tobias Broomhall who looked like he was going to really put the cat amongst the pigeons. His skiddy action caused both Houghs problems and three wickets fell in his first over.

The twins needs to re-group and re-group fast. Hough (S) rose to that challenge by driving elegantly wide of mid on for four, Hough (V) guided the ball behind square sensibly. Plus, they ran like the wind.

By the time the Ts got to the last over, they were eight ahead but the dangerous Heasman was back into the attack. Things got even tighter when he bowled Hough (S) first ball. Squeaky bum time definitely incoming.

Vince Hough kept his nerve and kept the next one out, before the twins scrambled an impressive three to give Twickenham just a little more breathing room. By the time it got to two balls left the Houghs knew that one more dot would win it; they nudged and scampered through for another single. The final ball was therefore academic, but Vince Hough nonetheless calmly cut it behind square for four.

The Ts therefore ultimately won, but Hampton Hill were very much their equals on the day. A brilliant contest played in exactly the right way. Respect due to all concerned.