Twickenham's U11s made it three wins from three in the 2026 Summer League via a 51 run triumph against a gallant Sheen Park side. Solid batting from the lower-middle order and some generally pretty accurate bowling was enough to get the job done.

All run fives (!)
The Ts have had a pretty decent July. Indeed, the win at Sheen Park on 27 July was their fifth (across friendlies and leagues) on the bounce. The result is far from everything in junior cricket, but, still, that sort of form says something must be going right somewhere.

For the first half hour of this particular encounter things very much went Twickenham's way. Vince Hough and Sam Allen ran aggressively and, in due course, Hough (V) in particular started hitting the boundary ropes. That was in spite of the fact that it felt like you needed to call an Uber to actually get to those ropes, so far were they from the track on which the game was being played.

It subsequently wasn't long before the younger Hough twin retired (30no off 22). Sam Allen then followed him back to the shack just two balls later, smartly run out by Louis Barrett.

That prompted something of a collapse. 46-1 became 58-5 as Leonardo Barnett (2-11) caused no small amount of chaos in the Twickenham middle order.

A re-set was needed and that re-set indeed arrived. Stan Hough and Harvir Ghere hit hard and ran well. Very well, in fact. So much so that they managed an all run five (with no overthrows involved) as the ball rolled and rolled away to the boundary in front of the pavilion but never quite got there. It took three relay throws to return it and by that time the batters had run five. When the two of them followed that up with an all run four there were concerns that Ghere might need the de-fib to keep him going....all worries unfounded, Ghere was fighting fit and in the mood to accumulate more runs.

Both Ghere (22no off 25) and the older Hough (33no off 25) retired, leaving Harry Kachel and Jesse Mills to run like the wind and keep the score moving. Noah de Vos chipped in at the end and that all came together to leave Sheen Park needing 156 to win.

Ts' bowlers keep it tight
The Sheen Park chase started in what can best be described as chaotic fashion. After all, it's not often you find yourself in a situation where it's 2-2 off only 2 balls.

Noah de Vos was at the centre of that. He produced an absolute corker to remove Gus Siviraj first ball of the innings. He then fired down a wide and that led poor old Jack Moulin to commit exactly the same crime as so many others before him; Moulin took on Jack Baran's arm at long stop. The result of such behaviour was, as it frequently is, the stumps mown down at the striker's end and a batsman trudging back to the pavilion having been run out. In poor old Moulin's case, without even having faced a ball.

Number three Karthar Dhotkar came in and steadied the ship. Debutant Idris Opoku bowled well at him, but Dhotkar batted positively for his 26no (off 32 balls). Rory Jones (17no off 25) joined him in the ship-steadying endeavour, and the two of them put on 32 at a decent lick. Sheen Park were beginning to get into the swing of things.

But, both batters then retired and it was at that point that things decisively turned Twickenham's way. The Twickenham captain, Massimo Constantopoulos, impressively ran out Charlie Danos, Stan Hough looped one past the hard-hitting Louis Barnett and Vince Hough then bowled Monty Phillips. Cue another run out (Jesse Mills being responsible there) and the hosts' were now well off course.

Constantopoulos and Raff Foster bowled tight overs, Zakii Miah armed down his left armers effectively. Chuck in a bit of speed from Harvir Ghere and Harry Kachel, and the Ts were now biding their time and waiting for the end.

Ultimately it was number 11 Archie Cook who showed some of the most impressive resilience. He batted 19 balls for an undefeated four, thereby ensuring that Sheen Park batted their full quota of 20. Good stickability.

Twickenham subsequently got home with 51 runs to spare. Felt about right. Shout out to Mass Constantopoulos there; a stalwart of the side from the days of Allstars, he's now off to teach all those in Portugal about the virtues of cricket. Monday was subsequently his last game for the Ts. Well done Mass, we'll miss you.