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| TWCC v Greys |
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10th May 2026
In theory this was early May, but just tell that to my dead runner
beans. Drizzle was in the air, the grass was wet underfoot, and three
jumpers were not quite enough. Tom didn’t win the toss and
Grey’s skipper Ben opted to bowl first which is really the only
way to go in these short games we play.As we began our 42:38 varigame, Grey’s opening bowlers found good lift and some movement off the pitch but Tom F and Henry batted beautifully together, mixing sharp running with a growing range of boundaries as they steadily took control of the innings. Greys rotated their bowlers steadily in search of a breakthrough, but it was not until the 26th over, with the score already 138, that Sewell finally broke the stand, when Tom was caught for an excellent opening contribution after playing some lovely strokes in his 58, including a forward press that sticks in the memory that raced away for four through the covers across an unexpectedly quick outfield. Henry meanwhile continued serenely onwards towards a first century for TWCC. He rarely looked troubled, timed the ball wonderfully well throughout and reached his hundred with a calm single to deserved applause from around the ground. Henry’s maiden century for TWCC, and how good to see the dedication of TWCC’s youth development team paying off as he played all the shots we have told ourselves we should play since we were kids. Henry retired on 100 and we were, are, very happy for him. Jonathan, sharing a further 50 partnership with Henry, and then a few more with Brocky, ended on an energetic and unbeaten 38, while Brocky added a brisk unbeaten 11 as TWCC declared on 210 for 1 after 35 overs. We should pay tribute to Greys as they persevered with a wet ball and plugged away in the cold rain. Did I say declared? On 210? Oh yes - Tom stamped his authority on the afternoon, and in spite of us all to a man and dog saying, "No, Tom - we need 250 minimum" and "Woof" he waved Jonathan and Brocky in after just 35 overs, produced a wonderful tea, and told his bowlers to shut up and get on with it. But, after tea, despite the gloomy conditions, batting remained easier than conditions suggested would be possible as the ball kept being mysteriously cut and pulled to the boundary. “Pitch it up!” bellowed our skipper. If only we had… the scoring rate kept being around 6 an over, apart from the overs when it wasn’t. Laing and Laine had, indeed, started positively, and although Ed removed Laing for 14 with Tom taking a nice catch in the covers, Greys continued to score rapidly. Laine made 40 before falling to Jim, Henry holding a good catch at cover point, but by then Greys had taken control of the chase. Del Covill, in at 3 and who had already kept wicket excellently earlier in the day, played a superb 76 full of calm authority. One moment he would be chatting away cheerfully; the next you would look up to discover that he had taken a few fours off an over. No wonder he was so happy. Alongside Edwards (eventually out for 30), Covill kept Greys comfortably ahead of the required rate as the target inexorably shrank. Kanishka, presumably thanks to his remarkable consistency, bowled the only maiden of the entire match, while Henry and Brocky both kept things reasonably controlled, but wickets remained evasive. I find I haven't mentioned Matt B's three overs - but it's amazing what £20 will do. George Howes at least, but too late, deployed his curious golden arm almost immediately bowling Covill in his first over and then removing Edwards in his next, Matt B taking the catch, but Ashton and Newland comfortably completed the chase in the 37th over with six wickets (and plenty of overs) in hand. As well as the commendably brave declaration, the contrast in extras proved significant: just 2 conceded by Greys compared to 24 from the home side, but in the end the day belonged mostly to three innings, though there were others from Jonathan, Laine, and Greys’ skipper, Ben. We all enjoyed Henry’s first century for the club, Tom’s solid and excellent 58 and Covill’s excellent chase-defining 76. Inevitably that old bore, Hindsight, had most to say in the pub, but he always just sits there, never buys a drink and, well, we can all do without him chipping in. There are worse things in cricket than trying to win! Scorecard Toss won by Greys who chose to field first in a 42:38 varigame with added draw option and unlimited overs per bowler. TWCC Innings: T Firth* ct D Ashton bld I Sewell 58; H SHort not out (retired) 100; J Rowland† not out 38; R Brock not out 11. DNB J Simon, K Bhattacharya, E Howes, M Brock, G Howes, E Bunn, C Howes. Extras 2 (B1, W1) , Total 210 for 1 Declared after 35 overs. Fall 1-138 when Tom was out, then Henry (was) retired when he reached his 100, and his partnership with Jonathan was a further 50. Greys Bowling: D Day 5-0-20-0; C Foulerton 6-0-34-0; D Ashton 7-0-29-0; I Sewell 8-0-52-1; T Laing 4-0-32-0; B Newland 3-0-26-0; T Burgess 2-0-15-0. Greys Innings: T Laing ct T Firth bld E Howes 14; Laine ct H Short bld J Simon 40; D Covill† bld G Howes 76; D Edwards ct M Brock bld G Howes 30; D Ashton not out 26; B Newland* not out 2. DNB Day, Fenton, Burgess, Sewell, C Foulerton. Extras (wait for it...) 24!!! Total 212 for 4 (37.4 overs). Fall: 1-29, 2-95, 3-181, 4-198. TWCC Bowling: E Howes 6-0-34-1; K Bhattacharya 6-1-26-0; M Brock 3-0-36-0; J Simon 6-0-31-1; H Short 6-0-26-0; R Brock 6-0-25-0; G Howes 3.4-0-23-2. Greys win by 6 wickets. Top of page |
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