Week 2; Saturday Review

The Ts’ sides found life hard going on a(nother) damp Saturday in Middlesex. The fours won impressively, the ones and sixes battled gamely, but the poor old seconds and fifths came in a distant second place. The unfortunate threes didn’t even make it to the start line (see here for all the weekend’s MCCL scores and league tables).

Talbot rampages but Teddington come out on top
Neville Talbot went on the rampage for the ones on the Green, but it was ultimately to no avail as Teddington eased to a 51 run triumph (see here for the card). Talbot’s 79 in 43 balls came in response to the visitors well built 251.

South African ‘keeper batsman Pieter Daneel led the way for Teddington with a nicely crafted 86 (101 balls), although he was well supported by Rhythm Bedi (35) and skipper Nick Pryde (34). Bowling-wise the Ts kept at it with Rashid Mullazahdah (3-40 off 10) again to the fore. Patrick Dixon's 2-39 was also important in slowing the Teddington charge down, whilst Adam Mather picked up a couple of late wickets to end with 2-56.

Talbot’s whirlwind start ensured that Twickenham were ahead of the game for a long time, but an impressive 49no (48 balls) from Ethan Wright aside no one else really got the measure of a decent bowling attack. Wright brought out the reverse sweeps and even what looked suspiciously like a Dilshan, but he was left high and dry when Sam Harris bowled Monty Panesar to wrap the game up.

Lose though the ones did, it was great to have the whole match not just streamed live on both pitchvision and youtube (see here if you want to watch any of it back), but also to have live commentary on top. Nakul Pande, a student at St Mary's University, did an excellent job; he is a name to watch out for, you could well be hearing more of those dulcet tones on a major network sometime soon.

Nomula digs deep but to no avail
The twos were also playing Teddington and they had a day that they will quickly want to forget. 25-5 is never pretty and it was only some decent digging in from Nikhil Nomula (38) and skipper Nakul Vishvanth (15) that prevented things from getting embarrassing (see here for the card). Honourable mention to Tom Field who also helped push the score to somewhere near respectability.

98 was never likely to be a particularly problematic for Teddington, but the Ts did at least take four wickets with them. Indeed with the hosts at 7-2 there was at that point an outside chance of victory. Tom Clarke (40no) ensured that that didn’t happen, although Phil Nash (2-19 off 8) and Dave Jones (1-12 off 8) nonetheless did all they could.

Dassani the Destroyer
With threes’ fixture at Shepherd’s Bush falling foul of the weather, next stop was the fours. Their game was something of a replica of the twos’ match, only this time with the Twickenham side coming out on top (see here for the card).

Hinay Dassani led the charge with an impressive five wicket haul although the ever-reliable Praween Siriwardena (2-3) also chipped in nicely. Between them Dassani and Siriwardena caused complete mayhem as the Brentham innings effectively fell apart. 86-4 became 90 all out as Dassani ended with the magnificent figures of 5-10 off 7.

In reply the Ts had a major wobble before they’d even got going. 2-2 became 4-3 and a steadying hand was needed. The 4s’ middle order provided that admirably and the Ts chased their total down without losing another wicket. It was particularly good to see Usama Khan back in the ranks, and his 23no bodes well for the season ahead.

5s have a day to forget
The fifths had a day they will want to forget. Like the 4s, they too played Brentham but unlike the fours they came out on the wrong side of a hiding. News of individual performances is scant, but the bigger story is clear enough.

Brentham took first hit and posted an impressive 231 off their 45 overs. On an uncovered wicket on a damp day that’s a decent effort. In reply not evening the potentially destructive Jon Bosier could come up with much as the Ts wobbled to 79. A silver medal and we move on.

6s fight to the end
The 6th XI also came off second best, but they certainly made sure that they fought to the bitter end (see here for the card). Varun Ghatage led the way with the ball, taking the only two wickets to fall as a much stronger Hampton Hill 4s helped themselves to 214. Captain Paul Thornley (80) and ‘keeper batsman Neal Baverstock (51) led the charge for the hosts. Honourable mention to Jack Denham for taking a decent grab at mid-wicket to remove Baverstock.

In reply, Paul McLoughlin continued what is rapidly becoming a Chris Tavare (google him) inspired batting masterclass. The Salford Stopper might only have contributed 21, but his ‘thou shalt not pass’ attitude is certainly commendable.

The 6ths’ middle order came and went without much of an ado, but Chinni Devabhaktuni (34) and Anir Dontula (20no) dug in and saw the sixes up and over the hundred mark. 117 was still a fair way behind Hampton Hill’s offering, but at least the defeat was in two figures rather than three.

So, all in all, a disappointing set of results with the fours the shining beacon. Onwards and upwards.