By Usama Khan
Ts triumph and promotion battle hots up
Returning skipper Hinay Dassani lost the toss and the Ts were asked to bat. Uzzi Khan and Jonty Hunt opened the batting and put on 46 in 11 overs before Khan departed. Hunt was playing well up to that point; there were a couple of lovely on drives, the types of which you would pay to watch. However, he then stretched his hamstring and didn't look the same from that point on. He departed soon with the score 55-2.

The total than lurched to 60-4 in 20 overs before sliding dramatically to 85-7 in 30. At this point Twickenham were thinking just over a 100 and save yourselves from embarrassment. Ollie George tried to anchor and rebuild and he looked like he was working to his own plan before he also had an off moment. He called for a single that wasn't on and got himself run out.

Bozdan and Hunt Junior rise to the challenge
At 96-9 off 33 overs Twickenham were thinking that this could be another game where pre-game confidence hadn't translated into runs. Shahjahan Bozdar and Max Hunt, son of opening bat Jonty had other ideas. Bozdar started with trying to get a boundary an over whilst also rotating strike. Hunt would play out deliveries as required. The Ts edged up to 110/9 off 36 overs and then 122/9 of 38 overs. Progress.

At this point the Ts players were thinking 140 would give Actonians a game. Bozdar kept going and Hunt Junior also started to grow into his role. He took singles to get Bozdar back on strike whenever he could. Actonians were also very smart; they cut off the singles to keep Hunt on strike where they could. That didn't stop Hunt doing brilliantly, blocking out two overs from the opening bowler, playing with confidence and soft hands to avoid the fielders around the bat. This gave Bozdar the opportunity to score runs at the other end. Twickenham eventually finished on 157, with Bozdar top scorer on 55 not out.

Would 157 be enough?
At the half way point the Ts' players faith and confidence was restored. The Ts knew they had given their bowlers a par score to work with.

Twickenham started with the beaded assassin (Mehran Iqbal) and the club's resident West Indian Professional (cleverly disguised as Hinay Dassani). Both of them started brilliantly, Iqbal picking up a wicket with his third ball. His inswingers, starting on fifth stump and moving in, were causing the problems.

In many ways Twickenham had the perfect start; Iqbal and Dassani bowled with immense discipline, no bad balls both of them kept to their game plans admirably. Dassani kept the pressure on with his line and length whilst Iqbal kept mixing it up. After 16 overs Actonians were on 60-6; the two strike bowlers picking up three each.

Despite their losses the opposition kept themselves in the game building that to 120/6 off 30 overs. In the middle overs Dassani played with his bowling, the youngsters coming to the fore.Ollie Prescott-Brann and Max Hunt bowled to their field and showed good discipline. But,m the seventh wicket partnership nonetheless grew. The Ts needed another breakthrough.

Dassani and Iqbal came back for their second spells. The game was hanging in the balance and could have gone with way. Holger Kriess (the only man at TCC with his own catchphrase) joined the side for his once in a season appearance for the 4s and when Kriess is out on the pitch you must "enjoy yourselves guys". This includes being vocal and believing you can win the game. Germany's finest cricketer ensured that Twickenham were backing each other and the energy level didn't drop.

Iqbal sees Twickenham home
Mehran Iqbal eventually broke through with his 4th wicket of the day. His caught behind was followed by his signature celebration, punching the air right and left like a boxer. 130/7 off 33.

10 overs, 28 to win, 8 more for a winning draw. All results possible. None of this meant anything to Dassani. He likes to keep things simple, 3 more wickets and Twickenham win. He set his field and he bowled to his field; maiden on the board.

Iqbal carried on mixing things up, and it wasn't long before he got his fifth of the day. Inswinging yorker that outdoes you or full toss where your eyes light up and you promptly play all round it? Whichever you prefer.

At this point the scores were 138/8 of 35 overs. One point in the bag, but two more wickets and that becomes 12. The boxer promptly delivers another blow, this time a rising bouncer pushed straight to short cover / point. Jonty Hunt had no choice but to take it brilliantly and save his face in the process.

One more ball in Iqbal's over. Muhammed Ali Mehran runs in, bowls his signature inswinger, this time definitely a yorker, clean through the number 11. No boxing this time, it's an Imran Tahir-esque celebration by doing a lap of the ground. Iqbal ends with 7-34, Dassani 3-43.

One last word on the fielding. Effort of the day came from Shaun Daly. One fantastic piece of work in particular caught the day. Daly sprinted from mid-wicket to the square leg boundary, he put in a fantastic dive and saved two runs for the team. Efforts like that are appreciated by the whole team, raising the bar!

Well done everyone!

By Usama Khan