Twickenham U11s first 'Summer League' encounter of the season proved to be an enjoyable one against an always decent Fulham side (see here for the card). The Ts piled the runs high, posting 175 off their 20. Fulham's chase certainly had its moments, but the visitors ultimately had to settle for ending 18 runs short.

Twickenham batters all turn up
The 'main' league season is all done and dusted, but that means that the Summer League is now firmly on the agenda. The emphasis here is firmly on participation, and teams playing in the U11 comp may well be a little more varied in terms of ability than they were in the 'main' league.

So it was with the Twickenham U11s on 21 July. Given that Fulham travelled with the host of (very capable) pathway cricketers in their ranks, the Ts knew they'd have to be on the money to keep pace. That they most definitely did.

However, one of the Ts' real success stories in 2026 has been the all-round performances of Sammy Allen. So, when he was run out without troubling the scorers, those of a green and white persuasion were already beginning to furrow their brows.

Ved Pradyumna was having none of that. He came in at three and soon banished any thoughts of horribly low totals. Pradyumna and James Marsh batted really positively, running hard and hitting even harder. Marsh boshed the first (but not the last) six of the evening, Pradyumna cut nicely and hit a brace of splendid straight drives. It wasn't long before Marsh (30no off 21) and Pradyumna (31no off 34) were raising their bats and retiring.

With the score already looking healthy, the Hough Clan came in at four and five and simply kept things going. Ben Moran (2-13 off 3) tweaked and twirled nicely, and he did indeed slow the scoring down. But, Hough (S) then blasted a big six over square leg before retiring (33no off 21) whilst Hough (V) contributed 23 off 17 before being bowled by an absolute jaffer from Thomas Saunders. Indeed, Saunders was a little unlucky to end up with just the 1 wicket from his three over spell.

Raf Foster (at six) helped the Ts push the score north of 150, while Alfie Haley fell on his sword as the Ts went for quick runs. The same fate befell Zakii Miah, before the Ts closed on an imposing 175.

Tilzey, Constantopoulos and Joyce to the fore in the field
Eight an over on Twickenham Green - with an outfield like glass and relatively small boundaries - is never out of the question, but Fulham knew that if they wanted to get to 176 they would still have to get off to a good start.

Taking ten off the first over was reasonable enough, but a signifcant spanner was thrown in the works with the last ball of the second. The dangerous Raphy Barford had hit the boundary ropes and was making it clear that he didn't intend to hang about....before Vince Hough swung one in nicely that clattered into the stumps.

Still, the loss of Barford didn't seem to put Fulham off unduly, Shivam Kodlikeri (12 off 16) and Alfred Green (26 off 19) took the score to 67 before disaster once again struck. The mercurial Austin Tilzey coaxed a false shot out of Kodlikeri, Stan Hough neatly moved to his left at mid on to take the catch.

One ball and one run later, Toby Tolland served up a carbon copy of Kodlikeri's dismissal. Same ball, same shot, same catcher, same result. Tilzey had a brace of wickets, Fulham were suddenly 67-3.

Oscar Green (8 off 15) helped orchestrate something of a rebuild, although it was really Aryaan Thiele (36 off 30) who went on the offensive and started pushing the Twickenham fielders back.

The Ts again rose to the challenge. Mass Constantopoulos gave little away when he bowled, while just the three runs came off one Alfie Haley over. Throw in a good second over from Gus Joyce and the Ts were gaining the upper hand. A neat and tidy bit of fielding from Constantopoulos at point also ran out Woody Bullard along the way.

As the run rate rose, so Fulham's anxieties increased. That prompted Sam Allen to enduce Oscar Green out of his crease.....and Stan Hough to duly stump him. Skipper Alex Taylor (14 off 11) fought back, but by the time Messrs Marsh and Hough (V) added to their wickets tally the deed was virtually done.

Not that Fulham didn't keep charging. That was epitomised with the very last ball of the day. Neededing 20 to win Thiele and Thomas Saunders scrambled one bye before then risking a kamikazee second. Thiele was nowhere near home, the Ts had won by 18 runs.

Good stuff one all, fingers crossed every Summer League contest is this entertaining.