Twickenham 223-8 (45 Overs) Steve Cowley 59, Dan Hough 54, Waheed Rasul 3-42
Shepherd’s Bush 236-8 (45 overs) Henry Smith 65no, Kaushik Maran 38, Ali Jennings 3-32

Twickenham and Shepherd’s Bush served some thoroughly entertaining fare in their Sunday encounter on Twickenham Green. Steve Cowley (59 in 74 balls) and Dan Hough 54 (in 70 balls) set the tone for the Ts, with nice little cameos from skipper Connor Finney (32 in 30) and Ali Jennings (24no in 32)) helping the hosts to 233-8 off 45.

In reply, openers Tom Pigott (32) and Kaushik Maran (38) got the Bush off to a good start, but the impressive Ali Jennings (3-32 off 9) and Ant Hill pegged the visitors back. Henry Smith (65no in 67) kept the Bush on track and they ultimately squeezed home with 2 wickets and 3 balls to spare.

Openers hit the ground running
With neither side playing in Week 1, this match effectively represented the start of the campaign for both. Connor Finney made his captaincy debut for the Ts, whilst Nick Westgarth made his MCCL debut. Finney lost the toss (and temporarily lost the match balls!), but was nonetheless not unduly bothered to have to have a bat first.

Club Secretary Dan Hough and keeper-batsman Steve Cowley got things up and running in bright and breezy fashion. Hough drove nicely whilst Cowley hit hard and straight; 50 off 9 overs and 100 off 19 and the Ts were purring nicely.

A change of pace in the Bush’s attack led to both Cowley (59) and Hough (54) perishing as the visitors came back into the game. Waheed Rasul (3-42) dibbled and dobbled nicely from the Hampton Road End and mercurial off spinner Carl Menzie span some webs from the Staines Road End. Kev Cavilla (22 off 24) did his best to keep things moving, as did skipper Connor Finney (32 in 30) as the score moved north of 200. Ali Jennings’ impressive 24no saw the Ts close on an eminently respectable 233.

Jennings rises to the challenge
The Bush innings followed in a not dissimilar fashion. The openers set a very solid base, and well though JP Bowman and Ozzie Qavi bowled the breakthrough wouldn’t come. The loop and guile of Tony Hill was needed for that to happen, and the galloping gourmet saw off Tom Pigott with the score on 63.

From there on in the game ebbed and flowed. Ali Jennings bowled impressively and at 105-3 Twickenham were looking good. But the Bush middle order dug in, and Henry Smith and Matt Linehan put on 89 before another wicket fell. By that point, the game was the Bush’s to lose. But Finney showed a touch of creativity in chucking Kev Cavilla the back; a breakthrough was needed and a bit of left arm wobble did just the trick. Cavilla (2-16) did just what was asked of him and suddenly the game was back in the balance.

Smith looked solid enough, but with the rate over a run a ball and wickets tumbling the pressure was on. Skipper Will Trotman decided to live and die by the long handle, and his 14 was important in keeping things moving. Ultimately, Finney chucked the ball to the his two young guns, Qavi and Jennings, to try and bring the bacon home. 20 off 18 balls became 12 off 12. An excellent over from Jennings saw 9 then needed off the last over. Qavi gave it all he had but the Bush ultimately squeezed home with three balls left.

Twickenham lost, but there were loads of positives to be taken from the game. A number of batters looked in decent nick and the Ts’ bowlers should plenty of stickability. The Bush also look like they may be one of the better sides around this season. All good. We all move on.