Big Game Time
Having gone into the weekend 21 points behind top placed Highgate and 3 behind 2nd place Enfield, TCC 1st XI new a win or winning draw would place them right in the mix for promotion.

Despite the glorious weather in the preceding week the weekend proved somewhat miserable with a rain affected start meaning the game would be reduced to an 80 over game, with a 2 pm start.

The Curse of the Warm Up
Twickenham, full of intent and enthusiasm, began their warm up in the rain. All appeared to be going well until Tom ‘peanuts’ Grundy was violently shot from a sniper placed strategically above the Green Spice curry house. Whilst this might be the official version that Tom will be ensuring appears on the BBC's website, the truth, however, is a little less sexy. Our opening bowler would not be able to participate in the up coming match due to slipping on a ball in the pre-match warm up. Fortunately not quite the loss of Glenn McGrath in the 2005 Ashes at Edgbaston, but some might argue not far off.

This dramatic turn of events, however, brought along one of Twickenham's finest, having come off a feisty 15 in the 4th XI game at Broom Road, Kevin Cavilla was soon in a taxi to the 1st XI game. If I had an hour I would complete this match report in just gags about this call up including £24 in match fees, a taxi fare and a broken toe resulting from a first ball Yorker followed by a 2nd ball Yorker uprooting middle stump. Needless to say that ball would've got most of us out but we won't tell Kev that. Jokes aside, thanks to Kev for coming down and throwing his body around in the field for the 1s. Good luck in the 2's Saturday Kev (as per the club's selection policies, cc Eugene).

Throwing down the gauntlet
Twickenham CC then won the toss and chose to bat. With the new opening partnership of Darshan and Russell, Twickenham moved to 62 for 0 off 12. In the 13th Russell top edged the second bowling change bringing Rhys Davies to the crease. Davies played an aggressive innings scoring 60 odd in double quick time, whilst Darshan reached an extremely elegant 50. With the dismissal of Darshan, Nunes and McCabe made contributions before Luke Jones came to the crease and added an extremely quick 40 odd with some exceptional striking. Twickenham ended with 230 off 42 overs, which, given the conditions, seemed very competitive.

Twickenham then took the field knowing the challenge at hand. Highgate required 203 for the winning draw or 231 for victory and in Carlos Nunes' terms ‘we're taking 10 wickets boys, nothing else is acceptable’. With the usual pre-field team talk ringing in the ears, Twickenham set about their task. Gurjit and Parminder opened up with both striking early.

This left Highgate's best players at the crease and in honesty they were cruising it for the majority of the innings. However, the drinks break worked its magic, with a wicket falling soon after. Still, with work to do Nunes introduced McCabe to the attack. He bowled a delicious spell from the Pavilion end. As a result Highgate went from 88 for 2 to 115 for 5 in no time at all.

However, time was running out and wickets were still required, Twickenham turned up the heat!!! Highgate soon found themselves with 3 overs left and 1 wicket in hand. Despite good bowling from McCabe (who took 5) Parminder and Gurjit the last wicket proved too much on this occasion, and so the 5 point winning draw was settled for.

An excellent performance by a motivated side, that saw a good all round team performance with many positive contributions.

The 1st XI make the trip to Hornsey this Saturday for a crucial game to ensure the promotion / title race stays alive.

By Carlos Nunes