Twickenham's U10s came out on top in a low-scoring thriller against Teddington's U10s in Bushy Park (see here for the card) on 19 August. Neither side found batting particularly easy, both looked much happier with ball in hand. As the tension grew towards the end it was Twickenham who ultimately held their nerve to secure their third win of the 2025 Summer League campaign.

Batting ups and down for Twickenham
Many a cricketing guru will have you believe that low-scoring games are plenty more entertaining than high-scoring run fests. Those gurus would have been in their element in Bushy Park on Tuesday evening; Twickenham and Teddington served up a feast of entertainment in a keenly fought contest.

Twickenham won the toss and, as is their way, they decided to have a bat. Opening pair Jack Baran (11 off 12) and skipper Jaden Mate (9 off 12) batted positively, hitting the ball into the gaps and running well. They put on 31 and neither were out. Decent stuff.

For the most part the second pair of Fred Guest and James Penrose also protected their wickets well. They didn't put many runs on the board, but they did a good job of holding the fort. Cedric Nutter and Jesse Mills went in at three and both struggled to really lay bat on ball; they certainly tried, and they scampered between the wickets when they could, but the innings was somehow losing a bit of momentum.

Spinner Theo Bedwell had a lot to do with that. He bowled three overs and ended with 4-10. An impressive contribution. Jasper Regis (3-8 off 2) helped Bedwell along, and the Teddington fielding (and catching) remained slick throughout. Good stuff from the Bushy Parkers.

But, the final two Twickenham pairs did manage to row back. Vince Hough (20 off 15) and Harry Kachel sped their way between the wickets, whilst Stan Hough (23 off 14) and Faris Iqbal boshed and bashed to quite some effect. Indeed, the 21 that the pair took of the final over would ultimately prove to be pivotal.

Jaden Mate holds his nerve
Even then, the mood music on the sidelines was that 279 was at best a par score. In truth, it wasn't one of the Ts' better batting displays, so it was up to the bowling and fielding unit to take Twickenham home.

Josh Harlow had other ideas. He tried to grab the initiative for Teddington. He scored 14 (no dismissals) and set the Teddington innings off nicely. The Twickenham bowlers nonetheless soon got into their groove and Harlow was to end up being the only home batter who wasn't dismissed. A good omen for Twickenham.

Jack Baran took the new ball and he was decent value for his 1-8 from 2. The ever-improving James Penrose fired the ball in nicely from wide of the crease, whilst Fred Guest also managed to cause a modicum of mayhem.

Guest picked up a wicket via a neat catch by Harry Kachel at cover and he could quite plausibly have had two in two if another catch had been taken. The odd chance did indeed go begging, but, crucially, plenty more stuck; Cedric Nutter took a couple of neat ones, as did Jesse Mills. The fielding remained impressive throughout, as the Twickenham ring never tired of trying to burgle a run out or two.

It was, however, in the second half of the innings that the bowlers really came to the party. Jesse Mills (1 for 9 off 2) tweaked and twirled merrily away. Harry Kachel raced in and claimed a wicket, whilst Cedric Nutter - particularly in his second over - proved to be a real handful.

By the time the game entered the last four overs Teddington needed 29 to win. In the context of a game where run-scoring had been tough, no small task. 11 runs nonetheless came off over 17, with Jasper Regis in particular looking dangerous.

Buddy Mason hit one imperious four in over 18, leaving 11 needed off the final 12 balls. The pressure was rising. Who would step up and win their side the game?

The answer to that question was the Ts' skipper, Jaden Mate. He got both batters out in over 19 and that added 10 runs to the chase. Suddenly Twickenham were back in the box seat. That left Vince Hough to bowl the final over of the day. He kept his nerve, five runs came off the over, and the Ts were home and hosed by 12 runs.

"Not even the entry of a rather large-antlered, four-legged spectator could make you take your eyes of this game" mused Ts' watcher-in-chief, Louise Penrose. "The match went right down to the wire and was a great advert for the game". Never a truer word said.

Excellent stuff, well done one and all.