You know you’re getting towards the business end of the season when the timed games are history and you’re moving back to win/lose cricket. And, that’s precisely where we are; four games left, forty points up for grabs.

Ones welcome Finchley
Given the biblical rains that seem to have engulfed London at times this week, groundsman Nigel Gordon has been struggling gamely to get the Green something approaching playable. That battle will no doubt continue all the way up to kick off time on Saturday.

The ones will certainly be keen to play as a win against Finchley will see them mathematically safe with three games left to play. Finchley, of course, will also want to get out on the field; a win and they’ll feel that there is life in their great escape yet (see here for the table).

In the continued absence of Parminder Singh, Carlos Nunes will be hoping that Abhi Singh will continue his recent good form; his 16 wickets at an average of just over 12 are one good reason that the Ts have been on a decent run of late. The skipper himself will also be looking for just three more scalps to hit the 20 mark in 2019; no mean feat for a man who’s back is officially that of an 85 year old.

Batting-wise, Don Manuwelge had a blip last week, but he still leads the way with 425 runs at an average of 42 and a bit. Scott Newman is next in line (381 runs at 31) with Ben Leale-Green also in tow (305 runs at 27). All three play tomorrow.

Top of the table clash for the 2s
Eugene Berger’s 2nd XI travel to Stanmore for a top of the table clash. The twos currently sit second in the table, 20 points behind Stanmore (see here). A win, and the race for the title could well be going down to the wire.

Berger’s no doubt relieved that he has the core of his side to call upon. Nikhil Nomula gets an unsurprising promotion back from the threes following his bombastic 164 (plus a 44 not out on the Sunday) at Uxbridge (see here for more on that), whilst Pushtak Arsikere also comes in to add (yet more) depth to an already strong side. Throw in the batting all-rounder that the T Rex has now become and the Ts can certainly travel in hope and expectation.

Stats-wise, Tom Field is the bowler to keep an eye on; Devon's finest has taken 23 wickets at an average of 14. Berger himself (19 wickets at an average of little more than 20) and Thamby (15 wickets at 17) also add a bit of wicket-taking oomph to the Ts' line up.

3s welcome Brondesbury
The musical merry-go-round that is third team selection means that Steve Watts makes no less than seven changes for the visit of Brondesbury to St Mary’s. The vast majority of the changes have been forced on him, but that is the lot of a skipper these days, I’m afraid.

That having been said, any 3rd XI with Anu Agarwal in it is going to be better rather than worse off. As things stand the Earl of Twirl has 21 league wickets this year at an average of little more than 8 (!). Throw in Brandon Newman, Robbie Bosier and Kit Wilson and the 3s certainly look strong enough bowling-wise.

When it comes to the batting the Ts have been up and (sometimes very) down this year. That’s therefore where the most games need to be upped. Kev Cavilla is certainly due some runs, whilst Colin Blunden will be looking to take his fine form in the 4s forward in to this game. 263 runs at a touch above 43 says that he's in the groove. Keep an eye out, too, for Jonty Hunt (288 runs for the club in league cricket in 2019 at an average of over 41) making his 3rd XI debut.

The 3rd XI is Steve Watts, Anu Agarwal, Colin Blunden, Rob Bosier, Kevin Cavilla, Steve Cowley, Jonty Hunt, Ali Jennings, Brandon Newman and Kit Wilson

4s on the cusp of claiming the title
The 4th XI could theoretically win the Division 5b title on Saturday (see here for the table). Indeed, there are a couple of permutations that could lead to that.

The first involves the Ts beating Richmond and second placed Acton losing against MTSSC. That’d be the nice and straightforward option.

The second involves Acton (currently 29 points behind Twickenham) and the Ts losing, but the Ts losing narrowly enough to still pick up two points whilst Acton pick up none. Given that the Ts haven’t lost a game all season skipper Hinay Dassani will be hoping that the first of those permutations proves to be the way forward.

Dassani will be pleased that Mehran Iqbal is in his side. Mehran hasn't played too many games in 2019, but his TCC career stats tell the story; 103 wickets over 6 years at an average of 10.6. He is a strong player to be coming back in.

The red-ink-hunter, Nihal Tomar, also returns, looking to build on his impressive 2019 league average of 45. Fahrier Hasan offers a bit more bite to the bowling, while both Dave and Anthony Jones play together in the 4s for for the first time. Jon Bosier also makes his season debut for the 4s; say what you like about his style, but no one at TCC is likely to hit it further.

The 4th XI is Hinay Dassani, Jon Bosier, Hiran Dissanayake, Fahrier Hasan, Mehran Iqbal, Anthony Jones, Dave Jones, Uzzi Khan, Praween Siriwardena, Nihal Tomar and Chetan Ubale.

5ths looking up rather than down
The fifths welcome Chiswick to Broom Road in a game that is effectively make or break in terms of promotion. To be fair, promotion has been far from most people's minds up until now, but a good mid-season run sees the side neatly poised in fifth. Their opponents on Saturday sit one place above them in fourth (see here).

With Jonty Hunt promoted up to the threes, Andy Donelan will be opening the batting without his trusty partner at the other end. Donelan has had a quietly effective season; 314 runs (at an average of 34) means that he is the club's fourth highest run scorer in league cricket this year.

Bowling-wise, Harmeet Singh can do even better than that; he's second highest Ts league wicket-taker this season with 27 poles at an average of 14. Good work from the Harmenator there. Anil Bhatt (18 wickets at a shade under 17) has also contributed plenty and the two of them both play on Saturday. Young Luke Muraszko also adds something different with his left arm pace.

The 5th XI is Chris Wylde, Anil Bhatt, Andy Donelan, James Joyce, Waris Khan, Paul McLoughlin, Luke Muraszko, Harmeet Singh, Liam Tebb, and Phil Walker.

Go well everyone, but do bring the water wings just to be on the safe side.