As far as we are aware, James Hopkins does none of the above. But he doesn’t need to. On Saturday, as the thirds were struggling to save a game that they were very much on the way to losing, Hopkins stepped up to the plate.

The background to all this is that in a(nother) week of selection mayhem come Saturday morning 3rd XI skipper, Hinay Dassani, found himself with ten men. Even Dassani, the king of persuading folks at bus stops or shopping in the cereals’ aisle at Tesco, to come and play for him had run out of options. So, James Hopkins, father of Thomas Hopkins, one of a crop of promising TCC juniors, was persuaded to come on board and fill the void.

Dassani’s side began by chasing leather. Highgate put 321 on the board, Salman Hanif batting impressively for his 127no (see here for the card). The hosts decked early leaving Dassani’s side 47 overs to either chase that total down or simply bat out for a losing draw.

Dan Taylor (53 at a run a ball) batted positively and the impressive Rob Powell (45 off 43) also kept things moving. But at 174-8 the threes were in trouble; all thoughts of 322 had been well and truly banished and the only aim was survival. As Thomas Hopkins walked back to the pavilion his dad passed him on the way out. Not too many folks thought that he’d be there an hour later keeping out anything and everything thrown at him.

Once Hinay Dassani joined him it became akin to Anderson and Panesar v Australia at Cardiff in 2009. Dassani (19no) kept out 32 balls whilst Hopkins (12no) stood firm for 51 balls. They were out there as a pair for 13 overs in total. Respect due to the both of them, a monumental effort.

4s go third….
Elsewhere, the fours were the only side that really had anything to shout about. They won a low-scoring affair against Hornsey 3s (see here for the card).

Usama Khan (21 off 69) and Ben Phillimore (34 off 53) got the 4s off to a decent start, but VP Singh (22 off 24) was the only other TCC batter to make it to 20. Hornsey’s wily old warhorse, Adrian Fawden, helped himself to 4-18 at the end as Twickenham closed on 136 all out.

In reply Henry Everitt (33) batted nicely at the top for Hornsey, but VP Singh (again) bowled well with the new ball and he was excellent value for his 4-27. Debutant Tajpan Tumar was nonetheless the real star of the bowling show; his 4-7 (off 14!) strangled all life out of Hornsey’s reply. With Chetan Ubale chipping in with 2-38 the Ts were able to bowl the hosts out for 97. 12 points – and third in the table – incoming (see here).

Nomula shines but ones disappoint
The tail of the tape elsewhere was less positive.

Nikhil Nomula was the stand out performer for the first XI. He bowled marvellously to help himself to six wickets. The fact he kept going for over 25 overs says plenty for his fitness and willingness to keep at it.

Batting-wise, however, there was far too little for the ones to write home about. Skipper Carlos Nunes and Nomula joint top-scored with 19 apiece, and that was never likely to be enough to compete against a very strong Teddington side.

Twos come off second best at North London
The twos will also be less than overjoyed with their batting display (see here for the card). They were playing against North London. Ultimately they lost by three wickets.

Nakul Vishvanath’s side now sit third in the table (see here) but after two defeats on the bounce they will be looking to re-set in Week 11. Sanjit Sandhu (30 in 40 balls) and Akash Multani (30 in 51 balls) batted decently enough in the middle order but no one was able to dig in and go north of 50. Jack Good (4-44) caught the eye for the hosts.

Angus Hart and Ralph Pedersen put on 42 for the first North London wicket and at that point the Ts were drifting rapidly out of things. Akash Multani (5-44) and Eugene Berger (2-58) nonetheless dragged Twickenham back into it and at 102-7 it really did look like a total turnaround was on the cards.

No such luck. Keeper Orban Holdgate dug in for 31no (53 balls) and James Battcock (11no off 27) kept him company as the total got ever closer. They got there without any further dramas.

5s gain a silver medal
The fives were the final team in action. Over the last two weeks they’ve chased more or less anything that was put in front of them. They tried to do that once again in Week 10 … not this time round.

Matt Robinson (55) led the way for Actonians as they posted 234 (see here for the card). Skipper Harmeet Singh put in a marathon stint and ended up with a well-deserved 5-72. Pete Burke (2-24) and Steve Watts also chipped in with wickets.

Saul Croxford did his best to set the tone for the Ts, hitting 28 off marginally slower than a run-a-ball. Once he departed things did nonetheless begin to drift. Zafar Ali and Jon Bosier both hit 15 but only a bright-and-breezy 36no (22 balls) from the evergreen Pete Burke did at least help the side get north of 150.

The fives subsequently slip to 7th (see here), but they still remain 23 points ahead of Brentham 4s in 8th. A decent enough position to be in.